ME3142 The Castle in Medieval Scotland (1100 - 1550)

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof M H Brown

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Professor M. Brown

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Castles remain the most impressive physical reminders of Scotland's medieval past. The great royal fortresses of Edinburgh and Stirling provide symbols of Scotland's past nationhood; the ruined walls and towers of baronial castles demonstrate the power and pretensions of the great lords of the middle ages. As military strongholds, centres of government and lordship, and residences of royal and aristocratic households, these castles give access to the main themes of medieval Scottish politics and society. This module will study the castle in its context. The changing needs of military and domestic architecture in response to the needs of war and peace, the siting of castles and their use in wider structures of authority from Lothian and the marches to the Hebrides, and their role in warfare, as places of refuge and as bases for garrisons, will all be considered. Architectural and archaeological evidence will be combined with descriptions of the Scottish castle in chronicles and record sources to obtain a full understanding of the buildings and their functions.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS AT LEAST 60 CREDITS FROM {ME1003, ME1006, ME2003, HI2001, MH2002} OR PASS AT LEAST 60 CREDITS FROM {AN1002, AN2002, AN2003, CL2004}

Assessment pattern

100% Coursework

Re-assessment

4,000-word essay = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour seminar, plus 1 office hour.

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

280

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Experience using a combination of documentary, architectural and archaeological materials
  • Experience making presentations combining pictorial, material and discussion/analysis
  • Combine various forms of history - social, political, cultural - around examination of the functions of the castle