HI390-30 The World of the Tavern in Early Modern Europe
Introductory description
Like other advanced options, this module involves the study of a broad-ranging theme in a comparative and interdisciplinary context. It will examine developments in a number of different European countries (mainly the German lands, France and England) and draws on insights from neighbouring disciplines such as art and legal history, anthropology, theology and sociology. Compared to second-year options, there is a greater emphasis on historiographical debate, active student input in seminar organization and engagement with primary sources.
The module uses one of the most prominent social centres in early modern Europe to illustrate key themes and processes of the period, such as patterns of sociability, the growth of regulation, communication networks, confessional identity, incidence of crime, gender roles and alcohol consumption. It approaches pre-modern social conditions through the analysis of an ubiquitous leisure activity and highlights tensions between religious doctrines, secular laws and popular culture.
Module aims
After an introductory section on scholarly approaches and contextual issues, seminar sessions explore the legal, socio-economic an cultural dimensions of commercial hospitality and the status of the people who worked in the trade. Themes will be explored through student presentations and debates rather than lectures by the tutor. A concluding part widens the perspective to examine the relationship with local, national and ecclesiastical authorities as well as the potential for interdisciplinary approaches. Evidence from a broad chronological and geographical range is used to encourage long-term comparative views of early modern history. It shall become clear that basic similarities characterised the trade in Central and North-Western Europe, in spite of marked differences in the constitutional and confessional frameworks. Students are encouraged to suggest their own topics for public house projects and dissertations. All written work should engage with primary sources and/or historiography/neighbouring disciplines from a comparative perspective.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Part I: INTRODUCTION
- Module framework and introduction
- Historiography
- Early modern voices
Part II: THEMATIC APPROACHES
- Catering services
- Regulation
- Group presentation on publicans
- Group presentation on economic dimensions
- Group presentation on cultural services
- Group presentation on gender roles
- Crime: Publicans & Patrons
- Sex and the Early Modern Public House
- Long-term-changes I (medieval/early modern)
- Long-term-changes II (early modern/modern)
- Presentations on dissertations and public house(s) projects
Part III. WIDER PERSPECTIVES
- Church and tavern
- Tavern and local authorities
- Class presentations on dissertations and long essays
- Interdisciplinary approaches
- Conclusion
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of the multifunctional role of early modern public houses
- Critically analyse and evaluate a broad range of primary sources (from a range of European case studies) relating to the history of early modern public houses
- Effectively communicate ideas, and make informed, coherent and persuasive arguments, relating to the history of early modern public houses
- Critically review and consolidate theoretical, methodological, and historiographical ideas relating to the history of early modern public houses
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Specific reading list for the module
Subject specific skills
See learning outcomes.
Transferable skills
See learning outcomes.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 17 sessions of 2 hours (11%) |
| Tutorials | 4 sessions of 1 hour (1%) |
| External visits | 1 session of 7 hours (2%) |
| Private study | 255 hours (85%) |
| Total | 300 hours |
Private study description
History modules require students to undertake extensive independent research and reading to prepare for seminars and assessments. As a rough guide, students will be expected to read and prepare to comment on three substantial texts (articles or book chapters) for each seminar taking approximately 3 hours. Each assessment requires independent research, reading around 6-10 texts and writing and presenting the outcomes of this preparation in an essay, review, presentation or other related task.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Seminar contribution | 10% | No | |
|
Reflective piece of writing |
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Reassessment component |
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| 1000 word reflection | Yes (extension) | ||
Assessment component |
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| 1500 word essay (book review | 10% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
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Assessment component |
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| 3000 word project | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Assessment component |
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| 7 day take-home essay with citations and a bibliography | 40% | No | |
|
7 day take-home essay with citations and a bibliography |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Written feedback provided via Tabula; optional oral feedback in office hours.
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 3 of UENA-VQ32 Undergraduate English and History
- Year 4 of UENA-VQ33 Undergraduate English and History (with Intercalated year)
- Year 3 of UHIA-V100 Undergraduate History
- Year 4 of UHIA-V104 Undergraduate History (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 4 of UHIA-V101 Undergraduate History (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
- Year 4 of UHIA-V1V9 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Intercalated Year)
-
UHIA-V1V8 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of V1V8 History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of V1V8 History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of UHIA-V1V6 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-V1V7 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VM11 Undergraduate History and Politics
-
UHIA-VM14 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of VM14 History and Politics (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of VM14 History and Politics (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of UHIA-VM12 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VM13 Undergraduate History and Politics (with a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VL13 Undergraduate History and Sociology
- Year 4 of UHIA-VL17 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with Intercalated Year)
-
UHIA-VL16 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 3 of VL16 History and Sociology (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of VL16 History and Sociology (with Year Abroad and a term in Venice)
- Year 4 of UHIA-VL14 Undergraduate History and Sociology (with Year Abroad)
This module is Option list A for:
- Year 4 of UITA-R3V2 Undergraduate History and Italian
- Year 4 of UHIA-VM15 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Intercalated Year)
This module is Option list B for:
- Year 3 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
- Year 4 of UHIA-V1V6 Undergraduate History and Philosophy (with Year Abroad)
- Year 3 of UHIA-VM11 Undergraduate History and Politics
- Year 4 of UHIA-VM12 Undergraduate History and Politics (with Year Abroad)