ME3608 Eastern Approaches: Early Medieval Armenia c. 500 - 750

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

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 T W Greenwood

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

Module Staff

Dr T W Greenwood

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

Module description

This module explores Armenian political, social and cultural history in the early medieval period. It examines Armenian engagement with the great powers of the day, Rome and Persia as well as Armenian responses to the dramatic reconfiguring of the Near East in the seventh century, when the old order was swept away and replaced by a dynamic Islamic polity. Issues of identity, orthodoxy and heroic history will be studied through a selection of translated extracts from sources originally in Armenian, Greek and Arabic. These sources will be assessed critically and in conjunction with numismatic and epigraphic evidence. This module offers an opportunity to study an early medieval Christian society on the eastern fringe of the Roman world and invites comparison with the post-Roman West.

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

60% Coursework 40% Examination (1x2-hour paper)

Re-assessment

4,000-word essay = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of the module, students will have gained new knowledge about a distinctive, resilient culture which developed through interaction with powerful neighbours
  • By the end of the module, students will have an appreciation of regional difference and identity
  • By the end of the module, students will be able analyse a wide range of primary materials, individually and in comparison
  • By the end of the module, students will have gained awareness of a series of challenging historical problems and evidential limitations