Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminar | 5 x 2 Hour Seminars |
| Lecture | 20 x 1 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Essay 1 - 1 x 2,500 word essay | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Essay 2 - 1 x 2,500 word essay | 25% |
| Semester Exam | 3 Hours (1 x 3 hour exam) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay 1 - 1 x 2,500 word supplementary (resit) essay | 25% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay 2 - 1 x 2,500 word supplementary (resit) essay | 25% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours 1 x 3 hour supplementary (resit) examination | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate familiarity with a substantial body of historical knowledge in the field of society, religion and authority in Wales in the sixteenth century.
2. Engage in source criticism, discussion and understanding of the major developments in Welsh history in this period, including the centralisation of authority and the religious changes subsequent to the split from Rome.
3. Read, analyse and reflect critically on secondary and primary texts, in particular the actual text of the Acts of Union, the Protestant propaganda produced during the period and the historical discussion on the reception of Protestantism in Wales.
4. Develop the ability to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of particular historical arguments and where necessary challenge them.
Brief description
The aim of this module is to investigate the effects on Wales of some of the significant developments of this period. Certain topics will be studied in some depth, including the controversial question of the 'union' between Wales and England and the nature and significance of the relationship between the Tudor monarchs and their Welsh subjects. The nature of the influence of the Renaissance in Wales will also be examined, particularly the consequences for the Welsh language. The reaction to the Protestant Reformation and the extent to which this new and alien faith succeeded in displacing superstition and magic amongst the majority of the population will also be assessed.
Content
1. Introduction to the period
2. Henry Tudor: towards Bosworth
3. Henry VII: 'the son of prophecy'?
4. Welsh society under the Tudors
5. Henry VIII: towards Union
6. The Church on the eve of Reformation
7. Henry VIII and Reformation
8. The 'Acts of Union' 1536-43
9. The impact of Union
10. The rise of the gentry
11. Edward VI: the boy king and the planting of Protestantism
12. 'Bloody' Mary?
13. Elizabeth I: church and state
14. The opposition to the Elizabethan Church
15. A Renaissance for Wales?
16. Magic and superstition in sixteenth-century Wales
17. Elizabethan government: the long-term effects of Union
18. Conclusion: the Tudors, Wales and the Welsh
Seminars:
Henry Tudor and Wales
The 1536 and 1543 Acts of Union
The Protestant Reformation
The Renaissance and the language
The Tudors and Wales
Aims
To enable students to achieve a sophisticated understanding of a crucial period in Welsh history which established the political and legal union with England, but also witnessed important developments which helped ensure the survival of the Welsh language.
To permit the student to debate issues relating to the use of propaganda by both sides of the religious divide, as well as the attitudes towards the use of the Welsh language in the context of both religion and scholarship.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | Written communication skills will be developed through the coursework and written examination; skills in oral presentation will be developed in seminars but are not formally assessed. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will be advised on how to improve research and communication skills through the individual tutorial providing feedback on submitted coursework. |
| Information Technology | Students will be encouraged to locate suitable material on the web and to apply it appropriately to their own work. Students will also be expected to word-process their work and make use of Blackboard. These skills will not be formally assessed. |
| Problem solving | Students are expected to note and respond to historical problems which arise as part of the study of this subject area and to undertake suitable research for seminars and essays. |
| Research skills | Students will develop their research skills by reading a range of texts and evaluating their usefulness in preparation for the coursework and the written examination. |
| Team work | Students will be expected to play an active part in group activities (e.g. short group presentations in seminars) and to learn to evaluate their own contribution to such activities. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6