HISTORY
War and Society in Medieval Europe
SPRING HN269
Wednesdays
Gillian Kenny
War has the powerful ability to change and reshape society. This course explores how war has shaped and been shaped by society, examining topics such as the just war tradition and chivalry in medieval Europe, the Crusades in Europe and Palestine, the early modern military revolution, the laws of war and the treatment of non-combatants and the impact of armed conflict on early modern state-building. It will concentrate on the human experience of war in a variety of ways from warriors to non-combatants.
The course will examine developments in military hardware and strategies and examine their impact on conflicts such as the Crusades and the Hundred Years War. Depictions of medieval war in modern media will also be discussed. For example, students will be able to trace the real events and incidents that have inspired recent works such as the very popular Game of Thrones series (described as the Wars of the Roses in fantasy fiction).
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BELFIELD |
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8 Wednesdays |
Jan 30, Feb 6, 13, 20, 27, Mar 6, 13, 20 |
7.30pm - 9.30pm |
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FEE €155 |
Print Open Learning Application Form 2012.13 or ring (01) 716-7123 for Laser/credit card payment |
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Tutor Bio
Gillian Kenny is a graduate of UCD and TCD where she completed her PhD in Medieval History. She is currently working on a comparative social history of Ireland, Wales and Scotland during the later medieval period.
Provisional list of key topics to be covered:
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Thinking about War in Medieval Europe
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The Crusades
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Late Medieval Warfare
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The Hundred Years War
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Civil Wars (Wars of the Roses)
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Warfare in Renaissance Europe
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The Military Revolution
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Laws of War and Non-combatants
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Medieval War in Modern Culture: Truth or Fiction?
Who is the course for?
People interested in the genesis and conduct of the art of war during the Middle Ages and its impact on society in Europe will be interested in this course. Those who wish to understand the violent processes that helped to shape modern European society as well as the philosophy of war will also be interested.
Reading List:
The following is a selection of recommended texts for those interested in reading further around the course content. We advise that you do not buy books in advance of the course as your tutor will discuss the list and suggest the most relevant reading for particular interests.
Jeremy Black, European Warfare 1494-1660. London: Routledge, 2002.
Maurice Keen, “Chivalry and War” in Chivalry, New Haven: Yale University Press, pp. 219-237.
N. Machiavelli, The Art of War, New York: Da Capo Press, 1965, pp. 34-43, 183-205
John Keegan, “Agincourt, 25 October 1415,” in The Face of Battle, London: Penguin Books, 1978, pp. 78-116.
David Crouch, “Documents on the Tournament,” in Tournament, London: Hambeldon and London, 2005, pp. 188-204.
