Students

MHIS2007 – From Charlemagne to Game of Thrones: The Middle Ages Then and Now

2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Clare Monagle
Tess Watterson
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in HIST or MHIS or POL or POIR or MHIX or POIX units)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The 'medieval' is everywhere in our 'modern' age, both in culture and in our institutions. The University and the Parliament are medieval institutional inventions, for example. Our popular culture is imbued with myths bequeathed by the Middle Ages, from Robin Hood to Jedi Knights. And yet, the term 'medieval' is hurled as an insult to anyone thought to be backwards or ignorant. Following Tarantino, brutal punishment can be defined as getting medieval. This course will look at both the real Middle Ages, as a historical period, as well as its representations in our own culture. In particular, we will look at the political history of Latin Christendom, in order to understand the rise of kingdoms and the papacy during the Middle Ages. At the same time, students will encounter medievalism in our own time. We will match our discussion of the 'real' Middle Ages with awareness of the 'fantasy' Middle Ages in which our imaginations so often reside.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Identify and define medieval archetypes, such as the Knight, the Lady, and, the Cleric.
  • ULO2: Locate and explain varying instances of medievalism over time, from the early-modern period to the current day.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the ideological implications of periodization, particularly as pertaining to the terms medieval and modern.
  • ULO4: Engage with and interpret difference genres of medievalism, particularly quest narratives, chivalric romance, and, farce. Students will have developed an understanding of the implications of racial medievalist imaginaries.

General Assessment Information

The late penalty for assignments submitted after the due date will be calculated at 2% per day. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Short Answer Take-Home Test 30% No Week 5
Assessment Title Three Minute Presentation 10% No Week 9
Reflective Essay 30% No 13
Ongoing Quizzes 30% No Weeks 2,3,4,6,7,8,11

Short Answer Take-Home Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will be asked to define key concepts from the unit, and to place them in the context of the materials considered in the readings/screenings.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and define medieval archetypes, such as the Knight, the Lady, and, the Cleric.
  • Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the ideological implications of periodization, particularly as pertaining to the terms medieval and modern.
  • Engage with and interpret difference genres of medievalism, particularly quest narratives, chivalric romance, and, farce. Students will have developed an understanding of the implications of racial medievalist imaginaries.

Assessment Title Three Minute Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 9
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will choose and explicate an example of medievalism in the modern world, explaining its medieval foundations as well as exploring its aesthetic and ideological characteristics in modernity. Students will deliver the presentation via video file.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and define medieval archetypes, such as the Knight, the Lady, and, the Cleric.
  • Locate and explain varying instances of medievalism over time, from the early-modern period to the current day.
  • Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the ideological implications of periodization, particularly as pertaining to the terms medieval and modern.
  • Engage with and interpret difference genres of medievalism, particularly quest narratives, chivalric romance, and, farce. Students will have developed an understanding of the implications of racial medievalist imaginaries.

Reflective Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 13
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will answer a synthetic question about medievalism, one that brings together the key problems of the course, and draws together diverse examples from the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and define medieval archetypes, such as the Knight, the Lady, and, the Cleric.
  • Locate and explain varying instances of medievalism over time, from the early-modern period to the current day.
  • Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the ideological implications of periodization, particularly as pertaining to the terms medieval and modern.
  • Engage with and interpret difference genres of medievalism, particularly quest narratives, chivalric romance, and, farce. Students will have developed an understanding of the implications of racial medievalist imaginaries.

Ongoing Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: Weeks 2,3,4,6,7,8,11
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will be required to undertake 7 online quizzes during the unit. These will test comprehension of readings and films.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and define medieval archetypes, such as the Knight, the Lady, and, the Cleric.
  • Engage with and interpret difference genres of medievalism, particularly quest narratives, chivalric romance, and, farce. Students will have developed an understanding of the implications of racial medievalist imaginaries.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Readings will be available online through Leganto. Information about how to access films will be provided by the teacher. Lectures will be delivered online and available through ilearn. More information about the delivery mode for tutorials will be provided on ilearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.