HI2101 Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and their Impact on Britain and Ireland
Module Organiser: Professor Terry Barry
Duration: Hilary Term
Contact hours: 2 lectures per week and 6 seminars over the course of the term
Weighting: 10 ECTS
Assessment: 20% essay, 80% examination
Description: This module will provide students with an over-view of how the Kingdom of England evolved over half a millennium, commencing with the often chaotic events that followed the collapse of Roman control over the island at the start of the fifth century AD. England was later stabilised by the Anglo-Saxon settlement, and there developed strong independent regional kingdoms, such as those of Mercia, Northumbria and, particularly, Wessex. Later upheavals caused by Viking raiding followed by Viking settlement, led eventually to a resurgent West Saxon kingdom whose kings were to become the first rulers of a unified England. Apart from historical sources, this module will utilise other types of evidence, particularly from archaeology, as well as cartographic and place name sources. Important contemporary literary sources, such as Beowulf, will also be studied in some detail.
Module Guide (2013) (PDF, 800kb)
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Outline chronologically and explain key developments relating to the impact of the Anglo-Saxons and vikings in Britain and Ireland
- Discuss the core features of ‘British’ and Irish society during the early middle ages
- Search for, and critically appraise, relevant literature
- Undertake a extended analysis of select contemporary sources in translation
- Communicate analysis and argument in written and verbal format.