The three faces of Eve. Jewish, Christian and Muslim women in Medieval Iberia
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| HIST3125 | History | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- HIST3125
- School
- History
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The module examines the roles and perceptions of women of medieval Christian, Jewish, Islamic identities in Medieval Iberia in the period 1000-1500. It considers different types of evidence, including literary, art and archaeology. It transcends the traditional Christian-western European focus on Medieval Studies and makes a stand against hegemonic narratives.
We will study how medieval women expressed themselves and how they understood their role in diverse societies and at the same time how their respective societies viewed them. We will evaluate how beliefs and patriarchal traditions shaped gender roles and how women expressed themselves under constrictive situations and how they demonstrated agency, conforming to or protesting against these restrictions. In the case of Medieval Iberia, the topic will consider broad debates about co-existence and discourses of identity and segregation.
We will focus on case studies of women, considering social status, economic occupations and engagement in the religious and intellectual life in their context. We will consider aristocratic women, queens, artisans, peasants, writers, nuns, saints and prostitutes, women going about their everyday business and women that had exceptional lives in an attempt to demonstrate the diversity of voices and expressions of female agency.
The analysis of evidence will pay special attention to the female voices as expressed in primary sources; on court cases, treatises, literature and we will contrast with legislation and misogynistic literature. The module will engage with feminist scholarship and gender studies historiography and consider the development of new theories and methodological approaches to the discipline.
Target Students
Available to level 3 or 4 single or joint honours History students and Liberal Arts students.
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: 3000 words essay (Primary source)
- 50% Coursework 2: 3000 words essay
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The aim of the module is to engage students with stimulating ideas on the role of women in different medieval societies in Iberia in the period 1000-1500 regarding three main aspects of study:The creative activities of women through their roles in religious life, in politics, in cultural developments, family life, economy.The constraints imposed on women by patriarchal societies as expressed in legislation and literature and socio-cultural restrains.The interchange of ideas and processes acculturation and/or the resistance to change and influence of hegemonic religions through a gender specific perspective.Students will develop analytical and critical skills related to this topic, acquire an understanding of primary sources and of the historiography debates around the subject. The module invites students to reflect on the wider themes of gender and female agency, as well as coexistence and identities.Learning Outcomes
Have sound knowledge of the history of medieval women in Medieval Iberia. Understand the place of women in medieval Iberia 1000-1500
Reflect on the nature of Gender History as a discipline.
Assess and evaluate different types of primary and secondary sources and ways in which they have been interpreted
Construct coherent and independent historical arguments about the subject matter.
Select, analyze and synthesize information from a range of secondary sources
Identify and address key problems relevant to the subject matter