HSTY2664: Semester 1, 2024

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Units HSTY2664 Semester 1 2024 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

HSTY2664: Medieval Cultures

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This is a unit about people and cultures. Women and men, merchants and monks, Christians and Jews all formed the cultures, classes and statuses which constituted late medieval European society. The study themes of this unit focus on the means by which ideas, cultures and expectations were constructed and transmitted, and include topics such as healthcare, civic life, the body, gender and sexuality, religious beliefs and practices, otherness, death, political theory, art and architecture, travel.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	HSTY2664
Academic unit	History
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	HSTY2064
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level in History, Ancient History or Asian Studies
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Helene Sirantoine, helene.sirantoine@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Helene Sirantoine, helene.sirantoine@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Short release assignment	Final exam (take-home) Instructions can be found on unit Canvas website	25%	Formal exam period Due date: 03 Jun 2024 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Tutorial participation Instructions can be found on unit Canvas website	10%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay plan Instructions can be found on unit Canvas website	10%	Week 07 Due date: 08 Apr 2024 at 23:59	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay Instructions can be found on unit Canvas website	40%	Week 12 Due date: 13 May 2024 at 23:59	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Tutorial homework Instructions can be found on unit Canvas website.	15%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on the unit Canvas website.
IMPORTANT: students need to attempt every assessment in order to pass the unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard. For more information, see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	(1) Unit introduction; (2) The World	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	The Otherworld	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	The World of the Hereford Map (ca. 1300)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	The Monastery	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Preparing for the Last Judgement: the tympanum of the church of Sainte-Foy in Conques	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	The Court	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Monks on the writing of History	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	The Forest	Online class (1 hr)
	Preparing for your essay: bibliographical tools	Online class (1 hr)
	The epistolary correspondence of Marie of France, countess of Champagne and Troyes (d. 1198)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	The School	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	The felling of a tree in Frankish times	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	The Cathedral	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Parisian students on strike (1229–1231)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	The Bedroom	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	The stained-glass windows of Chartres Cathedral	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	No class (ANZAC Day public holiday)	Independent study (3 hr)
Week 10	The Ghetto	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	In the bedchamber of Adela of Normandy, countess of Blois (c1067–1137)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	The Library	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Legislation concerning Jews (7th and 13th centuries)	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	The Field	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Visiting medieval libraries	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Moving places	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Exam review	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per FASS resolutions, “Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90 per cent of timetabled activities for a unit of study”. Also, “The case of any formally enrolled student who is absent from 50% or more of classes, regardless of the reasons for the absence, will be automatically referred to the end-of-semester departmental examiners’ meeting for a determination as to whether the student should pass or fail the unit”.
* Lecture: For students who have timetable clashes, lectures will be recorded and made available on Canvas. Students are responsible for making sure that they access lecture recordings prior to attending their weekly tutorials.
* Tutorials: It is expected that students attend tutorials. Students are responsible for coming prepared to their weekly tutorial. Details of required readings and preparation are available on Canvas.
* Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

No background in medieval history is required to succeed in this unit. But if you feel a bit lost or intimidated by the world of the Middle Ages, or if you wish to situate further the themes we'll study in class against the background of the medieval millennium, it is recommended that you read the following short textbook that will give you an excellent overview: Barbara Rosenwein, A short history of the Middle Ages. Fourth Edition (North York-Tonawanda: University of Toronto Press, 2014) [accessible through our Library catalogue as an e-Resource]

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Middle Ages through the exploration of the notion of ‘culture’ and its multiple manifestations;
LO2. Consolidate your sense of historical significance through the reading and analysis of primary and secondary sources. This is the main purpose of tutorials in which students practice week‐by‐week analytical and critical skills;
LO3. Demonstrate your ability to conduct an original research project that strengthens your skills as independent learner. This is the main purpose of the essay that students progressively research, build, and write across the semester.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit was taught in 2022. Its learning activities and assessment structure have been revised to improve student experience.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

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