Module HTH-2229:
Sea Kings & Vikings
Sea Kings & Vikings: Man and the Isles, 1000–1300 2023-24
HTH-2229
2023-24
Ysgol Hanes, y Gyfraith a Gwyddorau Cymdeithas
Modiwl - Semester 2
20 credits
Module Organiser:
Nia Jones
Overview
Lectures:
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INTRODUCTION: Themes and the early kingdom
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GODRED CROVAN: The foundation of the Crovan dynasty; Olaf son of Godred.
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SOMERLED: king or rebel, Viking or Gael?
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REGINALD GODREDSON: civil war and the descendants of Somerled.
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HAKON, KING OF NORWAY: the ned of the kingdom?
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THE CHURCH
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ECONOMY, SOCIETY, CULTURE
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ENGLAND AND NORWAY: the Angevin world, the Viking world.
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IRELAND AND WALES: kings of Ireland, Dublin, and Gwynedd.
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SCOTLAND AND THE END OF THE KINGDOM: later history.
Representative list of seminar topics:
Introduction Godred Crovan and the Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles
Source: Chronicle of the Kings of Man and the Isles
Somerled and Argyll
Source: Song of the Death of Somerled (Carmen de morte Somerledi)
Reginald Godredson, king of Man and the Isles
Source: a range of sources including English documents, Orkneyinga saga, the Manx Chronicle, and the Gaelic poem in praise of Reginald
Norway and the end of the kingdom
Source: two Norse sagas, Magnús saga berfœttr/Magnus Barefoot’s Saga by Snorri Sturluson (1179–1241), and Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar/Hakon Hakonson's Saga, by Sturla Þórðarson (1214–1284).
The church and the descendants of Somerled
Source: ecclesiastical archaeology/architecture, focussing on Iona
Castles and community
Source: archeological evidence of castles: Peel; Castle Rushen; Dun Chonaill; Dunstaffnage; Aros; Cairnburgh
Ireland, Dublin, Wales
Source: Vita Griffini filii Conani, the biography of King Gruffudd ap Cynan of Gwynedd
Norway and England
Source: a range of English administrative documents invlolving the Manx kings, taken from Monumenta de Insula Manniae, ed. J. R. Oliver (2 vols, Douglas, 1860–1862).
The end of the kingdom?
Assessment Strategy
Assessment criteria:
Threshold
Threshold students (low 40s) will show a basic knowledge of at least parts of the relevant field, and will make partly successful efforts at least to present an argument which will show awareness of different historical interpretations.
Good
Good students (50s) will show relevant knowledge of most of the field, using this to support conclusions based on analysis, and showing awareness of different historical interpretations.
Very good
Very good students (60s) will show a strong level of attainment in all the criteria listed in the previous paragraphs.
Excellent
Excellent students (70s and above) will show this strong attainment across the criteria as well as a particularly striking depth of knowledge ac/or ingenuity of analysis.
Learning Outcomes
- demonstrate a wide knowledge of the political and cultural history of the kingdom of Man and the Isles in the period c. 1000–c. 1300.
- demonstrate more detailed understanding of a specific aspect of the history of Man and the Isles.
- present clear historical arguments on aspects of the history of Man and the Isles in the form of a degree essay, supporting the arguments with primary source evidence.
- present historical arguments and support them with evidence under exam conditions.
- understand the relationship between the history of these islands and the history of the surrounding countires, and demonstrate a detailed knowledge of a particular aspect of this.
- weigh historiographical interpretations of the topic, including recent historiographical opinion.
Assessment method
Essay
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Essay 2,000–3,000 word essay dealing with aq specific aspect of the kingdom's history or the relationship between the kingdom of Man and the Isles and an adjoining area (outcomes 2 or 3; 4; 5)
Weighting
50%
Due date
07/05/2024
Assessment method
Exam (Centrally Scheduled)
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
50%: 1 × two-hour exam dealing with the history of the Kingdom of Man and the Isles and the relationship of the kingdom with surrounding areas (learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6) Two essay questions: Answer ONE question from Section A and ONE from Section B Section A questions focus on the history of Man and the Isles itself Section B requires discussion of Man and the Isles in its wider context
Weighting
50%