This module is not currently running in 2026 to 2027.
How did war shape national identities in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries? You’ll assess the causes, developments and legacy of the longest war in the Middle Ages, known as Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337-1453). Along the way, you will examine the context for the outbreak of the war, looking at the establishment of the Angevin Empire in northern France from the mid-twelfth century and the origins of the Hundred Years' War, the causes of which have been debated at length by historians. Following the chronological development of the war in its four phases, you will then focus on the European dimension of the war, which developed due to international alliances and attempts at pacifying the parties, mostly undertaken under the supervision of the papacy and the Empire. Alongside the political perspective, you will be encouraged to pay attention to the defensive structures and military strategies employed during the war, as well as the cultural milieu within which the war was fought that ultimately led to the growth of lay chivalric values.
Lecture 16, Seminar 16
20 minutes plus presentation slides Group presentation. Assessment Details: Students work in teams to present on a specific historical subject, in line with week’s focus worth 20%.
2,500 words Essay. Assessment Details: Students interpret question using primary sources and the secondary literature on a topic. worth 80%.
Reassessment Method: Single Instrument 100% written assessment / essay (2,500 words)
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Systematically understand and review historical debates concerning the role of war pace-making in the formation of national identities.
2) Accurately deploy established techniques of analysis to examine primary and secondary sources regarding the Hundred Years’ War.
3) Critically evaluate debates and sources on the Hundred Years’ war, producing original arguments.
4) Individually and/or collectively review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge with regard to war, peace and diplomacy in Late Medieval Europe.
5) Effectively communicate information, ideas, and interpretations concerning scholarly debates using written and visual primary evidence and to a variety of audiences.
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