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Introduction to Medieval History

Code: 100335
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Humanities OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Vicente Royo Perez
Email :
vicent.royo@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Marina Valls Bonet

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

None.

Objectives

The course provides a general overview of the various stages, key processes, and major events that took place during the Middle Ages, spanning from the 5th to the 15th century. This is approached through multiple thematic perspectives of historical science—social, political, economic, ideological, and cultural—and through both theoretical and practical activities.

The primary objective of the course is to equip students with the appropriate tools to acquire foundational knowledge of the historical framework of the Middle Ages, which will serve as a basis for the study of many subsequent subjects within the degree program.

All course content will be addressed with sensitivity to gender-related perspectives.

Learning outcomes

  1. Drawing up an academic text using the discipline's specific vocabulary.
  2. Engaging in debates about historical facts respecting the other participants' opinions.
  3. Interpreting the regulatory information that is located in the web pages of regulatory institutions.
  4. Critically analysing the past, the nature of the historical speech and the social function of historical science.
  5. Analysing the historical processes that led to armed conflicts.
  6. Critically assessing the various current approaches to the study of the history of Catalonia.
  7. Critically analysing the patterns explaining the historical phases.
  8. Explaining the most relevant historical processes of the Modern Period.
  9. Identifying the social, economic and political structures of the contemporary world.
  10. Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
  11. Identifying the social and economic tensions that triggered the transition from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern Period.
  12. Identifying the key concepts in explaining the Modern Period.
  13. Identifying the key historical concepts of the current Spanish and Catalan societies.
  14. Reading and interpreting historiographical texts or original documents and transcribing, summarising and cataloguing information from the Middle Ages.
  15. Organising and planning the search of historical information.
  16. Organising and summarising the different explanations about the causes of social change in the different historical stages of the Catalan society.
  17. Recognising the most appropriate bibliographic databases in order to obtain sources of a specific issue.
  18. Effectively working in teams and respecting different opinions.
  19. Properly using the specific vocabulary of History.
  20. Using the characteristic investigation sources of the history of Catalonia.
  21. Using the characteristic computing resources of the field of History.

Contents

1. The Middle Ages: concepts, periods, tools.

2. From the disintegration of the Roman Empire to the end of the Carolingian Empire (4th-10th centuries).

3. The Byzantine Empire: from the origins to the Eastern Schism (4th-11th century).

4. Muhammad, Islam and the first Islamic states (7th-10th c.).

5. Feudalism (11th-13th c.).

6. Disintegration and reconstitution of the Byzantine Empire: from the Komnenos dynasty to the Latin Empire (11th-13th c.).

7. The three caliphates: from the fitna to the end of the Abbasid caliphate (10th-13th c.).

8. Crisis and reconstruction of feudal Europe (14th-15th centuries).

9. The end of the Byzantine Empire: from the Palaiologos dynasty to the capture of Constantinople (13th-15th c.).

10. Islam: from the Mongol Empire to reunification under the Turks (13th-15th c.).

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Individual study 49 1.96 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21
Seminars and other activities guided by lecturers 15 0.6 1, 2, 3, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21
Elaboration of essays and commentaries. 30 1.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21
Theoretical classes 21 0.84 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 19
Tutorial seasons for the preparation of assignments (oral and written) and for the preparation of theoretical and practical content. 20 0.8 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21

1. Directed activities:

  • Lectures delivered by the teaching staff.
  • Seminar sessions and practical classes led by instructors. These practical sessions may take place outside the UAB, in the form of visits to museums, archives, monuments, or cultural landscapes.
  • Close reading of texts and interpretation of maps, graphs, tables, and archaeological documents.


2. Supervised activities:

  • Tutorial sessions aimed at guiding students in the preparation of assignments (both oral and written) and in the study of theoretical and practical content.


3. Independent activities:

  • Individual study
  • Completion of assignments and analytical commentaries.


At the beginning of the semester, the teaching staff will inform students of the scheduled office hours for face-to-face tutorials throughout the term, in order to support them in the preparation of assignments and the overall study of both theoretical and practical course content.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Partial Exam 2 35% 1.5 0.06 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20
Practical Work 30% 12 0.48 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21
Partial Exam 1 35% 1.5 0.06 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 20

CONTINUOUS ASSESTMENT

Evaluation System

The continuous assessment system will be based on the completion of three activities. Below are the types of assessment and the percentage each contributes to the overall grade:


  1. Synthesis test 1: 35%
  2. Synthesis test 2: 35%
  3. Practical work: 30%


Scheduling of assessment tests

The teaching staff will announce the first week of class, both in the classroom and through the Virtual Campus, the dates of the evaluation tests. Assessment dates can’t be changed unless there’s an exceptional and well-justified reason. If it is necessary to introduce changes in the evaluation procedure described in the teaching guide or in the dates published in the evaluation calendar due to unforeseen and justified situations, the teaching staff will present and discuss with the affected class group the proposed modification, which must be communicated through the Virtual Campus of the subject as far in advance as possible.

If a student has a documented chronic or acute illness, they can request to postpone the assessment, if it fits within the academic calendar. These requests must be submitted at least seven days in advance and include the required documentation. If the reason is an unexpected situation considered force majeure, the regulations allow the request to be submitted after the scheduled date, provided the documentation is delivered within three working days. This includes situations such as the birth or adoption of a child, or the death of a partner or a close relative (up to second degree). In cases of illness or other circumstances, the documentation must clearly show that the student was not in a condition to take the assessment at the scheduled time. Teaching staff may also use their discretion to consider other circumstances not explicitly listed above.

During the tests, the teachers may require the identification of the students, who must prove their identity by means of their student card, DNI, NIE or passport.

Erasmus students who need to leave before the scheduled assessment dates must provide an official document from their home university, addressed to the Degree Exchange Coordinator, confirming a calendar conflict (an overlap with academic activities at their home institution).

Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.


Instructions for the assestment

To pass the course, students must achieve an overall average mark of 5 or higher across all assessment activities. Furthermore, to calculate the average, it is mandatory to pass at least one of the two synthesis tests with a minimum mark of 5. Students who fail both synthesis tests must sit the resit exam, regardless of their weighted average. Any activity that is not completed or submitted will be graded as 0 for the purpose of calculating the final average.

Throughout the semester, a visit to the Arxiu i Biblioteca Episcopal de Vic is planned as part of a teaching innovation activity funded by the Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres. This outing will be related to practical work and will be carried out as long as there is sufficient funding to cover the students' journey to Vic.

This practical work will be made up of different exercises, which will combine the student's autonomous work and the realization of evaluable activities in the classroom. The teaching staff will inform about the characteristics of this activity and the dates of these compulsory on-campus activities at the beginning of the subject.

Students may earn up to an additional 0.5 points on their final average by attending seminars, conferences, congresses, or other activities previously approved by the course instructors, provided they are directly related to the subject matter. Attendance must be certified and a brief report on the activity submitted. The teaching staff will provide specific guidelines at the beginning of the semester. These 0.5 extra points will only be applied if the course has been passed and may not be used to reach the minimum passing grade of 5 or to avoid the resit exam. Likewise, the final coursegrade may not exceed 10.

The final grade of the subject will be rounded to one decimal place in the academic record. When the final grade is one tenth away from a qualitative grade change, it will be rounded to the subsequent score (4.9 → 5; 6.9 → 7; 8.9 → 9).

All submitted work will be evaluated on spelling accuracy, clarity of expression, and proper writing. Serious deficiencies in these areas may result in failure to pass the course.


Review and Re-evaluation

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

Students may access the resit examination provided that all required assessment activities have been submitted or completed within the deadlines set by the teaching staff. No new activity may be submitted for the first time during the resit period.

To participate in the resit process, the student must have been previously assessed in activities that amount to at least two-thirds of the total assessment weight.

In order to be eligible for the resit, students must have obtained an average mark of at least 3.5 across all assessment activities. Students who do not reach this threshold will not be permitted to take the resit exam.

The resit will consist of a written exam covering the entire course content and will take place on the date scheduled by the faculty.

The maximum grade that can be obtained in any resit activity is 5. Resits will not be considered an opportunity to improve marks.

Students will obtain a not assessed/not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30 % of the assessment items.


Irregularities and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

Any form of misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, copying, use of unauthorised devices such as digital watches, smartphones, headphones, or similar items) will result in a grade of 0 for the relevant activity, which will not be eligible for resit.

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

The sessions and their contents are protected by intellectual property and data protection regulations. Recording, reproducing, or sharing classes or participants' contributions is not permitted without prior authorization. Any recording must be expressly authorized.



SINGLE ASSESTMENT

Evaluation System

The single assessment system will be based on the completion of three activities. Below are the types of assessment and the percentage each contributes to the overall grade:


  1. Synthesis test 1: 35%
  2. Synthesis test 2: 35%
  3. Practical work: 30%


Scheduling of assessment tests

The teaching staff will announce the first week of class, both in the classroom and through the Virtual Campus, the single date for the completion and delivery of the evaluation tests. Assessment dates can’t be changed unless there’s an exceptional and well-justified reason. If it is necessary to introduce changes in the evaluation procedure described in the teaching guide or in the dates published in the evaluation calendar due to unforeseen and justified situations, the teaching staff will present and discuss with the affected class group the proposed modification, which must be communicated through the Virtual Campus of the subject as far in advance as possible.

If a student has a documented chronic or acute illness, they can request to postpone the assessment, if it fits within the academic calendar. These requests must be submitted at least seven days in advance and include the required documentation. If the reason is an unexpected situation considered force majeure, the regulations allow the request to be submitted after the scheduled date, provided the documentation is delivered within three working days. This includes situations such as the birth or adoption of a child, or the death of a partner or a close relative (up to second degree). In cases of illness or other circumstances, the documentation must clearly show that the student was not in a condition to take the assessment at the scheduled time. Teaching staff may also use their discretion to consider other circumstances not explicitly listed above.

During the tests, the teachers may require the identification of the students, who must prove their identity by means of their student card, DNI, NIE or passport.

Erasmus students who need to leave before the scheduled assessment dates must provide an official document from their home university, addressed to the Degree Exchange Coordinator, confirming a calendar conflict (an overlap with academic activities at their home institution).

Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.


Instructions for the assestment

Choosing the single assessment exempt the student from attending classes.

To pass the course, students must achieve an overall average mark of 5 or higher across all assessment activities. Furthermore, to calculate the average, it is mandatory to pass at least one of the two synthesis tests with a minimum mark of 5. Students who fail both synthesis tests must sit the resit exam, regardless of their weighted average. Any activity that is not completed or submitted will be graded as 0 for the purpose of calculating the final average.

Students who take the single assessment will be exempt from participating in any on-campus activity throughout the semester related to practical work. Where appropriate, this assessment test will consist of a written and oral exercise that will follow the same guidelines that will govern the task for students of continuous assessment and that will be carried out in person on the same day as the rest of the assessment tests.

Students may earn up to an additional 0.5 points on their final average by attending seminars, conferences, congresses, or other activities previously approved by the course instructors, provided they are directly related to the subject matter. Attendance must be certified and a brief report on the activity submitted. The teaching staff will provide specific guidelines at the beginning of the semester. These 0.5 extra points will only be applied if the course has been passed and may not be used to reach the minimum passing grade of 5 or to avoid the resit exam. Likewise, the final coursegrade may not exceed 10.

The final grade of the subject will be rounded to one decimal place in the academic record. When the final grade is one tenth away from a qualitative grade change, it will be rounded to the subsequent score (4.9 → 5; 6.9 → 7; 8.9 → 9).

All submitted work will be evaluated on spelling accuracy, clarity of expression, and proper writing. Serious deficiencies in these areas may result in failure to pass the course.


Review and Re-evaluation

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

The same assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.

Students will obtain a not assessed/not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30 % of the assessment items.


Irregularities and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

Any form of misconduct (e.g. plagiarism, copying, use of unauthorised devices such as digital watches, smartphones, headphones, or similar items) will result in a grade of 0 for the relevant activity, which will not be eligible for resit.

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

The sessions and their contents are protected by intellectual property and data protection regulations. Recording, reproducing, or sharing classes or participants' contributions is not permitted without prior authorization. Any recording must be expressly authorized.

Bibliography

Recommended basic bibliography

Baschet, Jérôme: La civilización feudal. Europa del año mil a la colonización de América. Ciudad de México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2010.

Blockmans, Wim i Hoppenbrouwers, Peter: Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500. Abingdon (UK): Routledge, 2023.

Boucheron, Patrick, Denis Menjot i Marc Boone: Historia de la Europa Urbana. II. La ciudad medieval. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València, 2010.

Contamine, Philippe, Bompaire, Marc, Lebecq, Stéphane i Sarrazin, Jean-Luc: La economía medieval. Madrid: Akal, 2000.

Donado Vara, Julián i Ana Echevarría Arsuaga: Historia Medieval I (siglos V-XII). Madrid: UNED, 2014.

Donado Vara, Julián, Ana Echevarría Arsuaga i Carlos Baquero Goñi: Historia Medieval II (siglos XIII-XV). Madrid: UNED, 2014.

García de Cortázar y Ruiz de Aguirre i José Ángel Sesma Muñoz: Manual de Historia Medieval. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2008 (quarta reimpressió, 2012).

Herrin, Judith: Bizancio: el imperio que hizo posible la Europa Moderna. Barcelona: Editorial Debate, 2022.

Ladero Quesada, Miguel Ángel: Historia de la Edad Media. Siglos IV a XV. Madrid: Editorial Dykinson, 2025.

Salrach i Marès, Josep Maria: Entre Roma i el Renaixement. Història i textos de l'Occident Medieval. Vic: Eumo, 2002.

Wickham, Chris: Europa en la Edad Media. Una nueva interpretación. Barcelona: Editorial Crítica, 2017.

Complementary bibliography (by periods and topics)

Bartlett, Robert: La formación de Europa. Conquista, civilización y cambio cultural, 950-1350. València: Publicacions Universitat de València, 2003.

Bartlett, Robert: Fire and Water: The Medieval Judicial Ordeal. Oxford (UK): Oxford University Press, 2014.

Bois, Guy: La gran depresión medieval: siglos XIV-XV. El precedente de una crisis sistémica. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València, 2001.

Bresh, Henri, Pierre Guichard i Robert Mantran: Europa y el Islam en la Edad Media. Barcelona: Editorial Crítica, 2001.

Brown, Peter: The World of Late Antiquity: AD 150-750 (World of Art). Londres: Thames and Hudson Ltd., 2024.

Calvo Gómez, José Antonio: El clero y los religiosos en la Edad Media. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 2017.

Faci Lacasta, Javier: Introducción al mundo bizantino. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 1996.

Feller, Laurent: Campesinos y señores en la Edad Media: siglos VIII-XV. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València, 2015.

Fiore, Alessio i Poloni, Alma: L’economia medievale. Un profilo storico (secoli V-Xv). Roma: Carocci Editori, 2024.

García Espada, Antonio: El imperio mongol. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 2017.

García Sanjuán, Alejandro: Las sociedades islámicas clásicas (siglos VII-XV). Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 2022.

Guijarro González, Susana: Enseñanzas, saberes y universidades en la Europa medieval. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 2018.

Haywood, John: Los Hombres del Norte: la saga vikinga (793-1241). Barcelona: Ariel, 2016.

Heather, Peter: Cristiandad. El triunfo de una religión. Barcelona: Crítica, 2024.

Hilton, Rodney: L'alliberament dels serfs. Els moviments camperols medievals i la revolta anglesa de 1381. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València, 2013.

Kennedy, Hugh: Las grandes conquistas árabes. Barcelona: Grupo Planeta, 2007.

Maalouf, Amin: Las cruzadas vistas por lo árabes. Madrid: Alianza editorial, 1989.

Morsel, Joseph: La aristocracia medieval: el dominio social en Occidente, siglos V-XV. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València, 2008.

Mitre Fernández, Emilio: La Iglesia en la Edad Media. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 2010.

Sanz Serrano, Rosa: Las migraciones bárbaras y la creación de los primeros reinos de Occidente. Madrid: Editorial Síntesis, 1999.

Toubert, Pierre: Europa en su primer crecimiento. De Carlomagano al año mil. València: Publicacions de la Universitat de València, 2006.

Vinyoles Vidal, Teresa: Història de les dones a la Catalunya medieval. Lleida: Pagès Editors, 2005.

Bibliography for work

Bonnassie, Pierre: Vocabulario básico de la historia medieval. Barcelona: Editorial Crítica, 1983.

Duby, Georges: Atals histórico mundial. Barcelona: Larousse, 2007.

Kinder, Hermann i Werner Hilgemann: Atlas Histórico Mundial. Madrid: Editorial Istmo, 1999, 2 vol.

Le Goff, Jacques i Jean-Claude Schmitt (eds.): Diccionario razonado del Occidente Medieval. Madrid: Ediciones Akal, 2003.

Loyn, Henry Royston. Diccionario Akal de Historia Medieval. Madrid: Akal, 1998.

MacKay, Angus i David Ditchburn (eds). Atlas de Europa Medieval. Madrid: Cátedra, 1999.

Salrach i Marès, Josep Maria: Entre Roma i el Renaixement. Història i textos de l'Occident Medieval. Vic: Eumo, 2002.

How to citeand preparate the bibliography: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudia-iinvestiga/com-citar-i-elaborar-la-bibliografia-1345708785665.html

Software

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Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan second semester morning-mixed