Kings, Queens, Parliaments & Peoples

Oxford is one of England’s most historically significant cities and this course introduces students to medieval England from the great Anglo-Saxon King Alfred to the death of King Richard II in 1399. We will explore the historical sources, art, and architecture of England, and also consider the other nations of the British Isles and the broader narrative of British history. In Oxford we can consider the Norman Conquest from the top of the Norman ‘motte’ constructed in 1073 and the murder of Thomas Becket from a casket which once carried his relics — Oxford is alive with history. We will trace kingship and the development of law, government and parliament. Key topics include the Norman Conquest of 1066, Magna Carta, the Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. The emphasis will be on students learning to question and interpret diverse primary historical materials themselves, from coins to chronicles, laws to royal portraits, and to understand them in their broader political, social and religious context.