Guide in PDF format

Medieval History of Catalonia

Code: 100352
Credits: 6

2026/2027

Degree programme	Type	Course
Archaeology	OP	4
History	OP	4

Contact lecturer

Name :: Jesus Brufal Sucarrat
Email :: jesus.brufal@uab.cat

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

All the Medieval subjects of the degree must have been succeeded.
Specifically, none.

Objectives

During the Middle Ages, Catalonia was configured territorially, socially, politically and culturally. Therefore, it acquired its own historical reality. Through the study of the most important historiographic contributions and written evidences the master lines of Catalonia’s origin will be exposed. Likewise, the consolidation and the evolution of the current Catalan territories will be explained. All these items will be studied following the structural and circumstantial evolution that experimented the political power as well as the society and the Catalan economy during the Middle Ages.

The contents will be sensitive to the aspects related to the perspective of gender.

Learning outcomes

Effectively expressing themselves and applying the argumentative and textual processes of formal and scientific texts.
Carrying out oral presentations using appropriate academic vocabulary and style.
Identifying the specific methods of History and its relationship with the analysis of particular facts.
Identifying the context of the historical processes.
Identifying the characteristic methods of Archaeology and its relationship with the historical analysis.
Using the specific interpretational and technical vocabulary of the discipline.
Recognising the importance of controlling the quality of the work's results and its presentation.
Applying both knowledge and analytical skills to the resolution of problems related to their area of study.
Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
Using suitable terminology when drawing up an academic text.
Transmitting the results of archaeological research and clearly communicating conclusions in oral and written form to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
Identifying main and supporting ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
Mastering the relevant languages to the necessary degree in the professional practice.
Applying proper techniques and analytical tools in case studies.
Interpreting material sources and the archaeological record.
Mastering the diachronic structure of the past.
Mastering and identifying the history of immediate environment.
Interpreting and analysing documentary sources.
Assessing and critically solving the characteristic historiographical problems of gender history.
Relating elements and factors involved in the development of historical processes.
Applying the grammatical knowledge acquired to the analysis and comprehension of Latin texts.
Applying the morphosyntactic analysis to the reading of Latin texts, identifying if necessary the specific characteristics of the literary genre or the corresponding linguistic variation.
Applying techniques in order to quickly and completely understand texts in Latin.
Examining a literary passage in Medieval Latin and connecting it with its general linguistic characteristics.
Assessing and critically solving the historiographical problems of war studies.
Organising and planning the search of historical information.
Using computing resources of the area of study of history.
Critically analysing informational speeches, especially in relation to ideology and ethnocentric and sexist bias.
Interpreting historical texts in relation to archaeological contexts.
Reading and interpreting historiographical texts or original documents and transcribing, summarizing and cataloguing information produced in the Middle Ages.
Mastering the Universal History of the Middle Ages.
Knowing the main historiographical debates concerning the Middle Ages.
Using research sources characteristic of the study of Catalonia's History.
Analysing the key issues that allow us to address the study of historical phenomena from a gender perspective.
Describing the economic, social and political structures of the Middle Ages.
Analyse the historical processes that lead to armed conflict.
Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
Using the characteristic computing resources of the field of History.
Solving problems autonomously.
Communicating in your mother tongue or other language both in oral and written form by using specific terminology and techniques of Historiography.
Engaging in debates about historical facts respecting the other participants' opinions.
Recognising diversity and multiculturalism.
Critically assessing the various current approaches to the study of the history of Catalonia.
Organising and summarising different explanations about the causes of social change in the different historical stages of the Catalan society.
Solve the methodological problems posed by the use of medieval historiographical sources.
Use the specific technical vocabulary of interpretation and commentary of ancient texts.

1. The Origins and the Formation of the County Dynasties (8th-10th centuries)

1.1. The late Kingdom of Toledo

1.2. Carolingian rule: the countships

1.3. The break with the Franks

1.4. The possession and exploitation of the land: presuras and allodiums

1.5. The Church: monasteries and bishoprics

2. The Andalusian lands (813-1017)

2.1 The Conquest and the Arab and Berber Migrations

2.2 Lineages and the \"people of the city\".

2.3 A Dynamic Andalusian Society

3. The Taifas and the Almoravid incorporation (1017-1149)

3.1 Localisms and Mediterranean unity

3.2 The Splendour and Weakness of Real Societies

3.3 Almoravid Hope and Agony

4. Feudalisation and territorial expansion (11th-12th centuries)

4.1. The revolts of the aristocracy

4.2. Subjugation of the peasantry. The Peace and Truce of God

4.3. The first impulses of conquest: the castles

4.4. The feudal principality. The Count of Barcelona. Law and institutions

4.5. Counts of Barcelona and Kings of Aragon.

4.6. The County of Barcelona and the Occitan counties

5. Power, society and Mediterranean expansion (13th century)

5.1. The Conquests of James I

5.2. The conquests of Pere II and James II

5.3. War and diplomacy in the Mediterranean: North Africa; the Great Company of the East

5.4. The Network of Consulates: routes and mercantile techniques

5.5. The institutions: monarchy, Cortes, Diputació del General, municipalities

6. Crises and transformations in the late Middle Ages (14th and 15th centuries)

6.1. Political conflict: aristocratic revolts; Genoa, Castile

6.2. Demographic and production collapse; the slowdown in mercantile activity

6.3. The enthronement of the Trastámara family

6.4. The remense problem and urban tensions

6.5. Institutional crisis. The Civil War. The Guadalupe Arbitration Sentence

6.6. Chronology and balance sheet.

Learning activities and methodology

Title	Hours	ECTS	Learning outcomes
Mentori: problems solving; approach and orientation of the final project	15	0.6	7, 14, 21, 31, 34, 35, 37, 39, 41, 42, 44, 46
Theoretical and practical lessons. Analysis of texts and documents.	50	2	2, 3, 8, 12, 17, 18, 20, 22, 26, 29, 32, 33, 36, 44, 45
Bibliographic research. Readings. Essays. Personal study.	75	3	1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 38, 39, 40, 43, 47

Attendance to the master classes
Practical classes / seminars about primary and secondary sources
Realisation of works about the state of play and analysis of documents
Personal study

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
Written exams and review	50%	4	0.16	1, 4, 10, 11, 17, 21, 23, 24, 32, 38, 40, 41, 44, 45, 47
Essays and comments about practical lessons	20%	3	0.12	2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 39, 40, 43, 44, 45
Essay about a monographic book	30%	3	0.12	6, 7, 9, 14, 15, 27, 29, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46

Continuous assessment:

The subject will be assessed by applying the following procedures:

1. Two eliminatory mid-term tests: 50% of the final mark: 25 % each.

2. Regarding assessment: 50% of the final mark: 25% each.

The omission of any of the parts that make up the continuous assessment means a zero when calculating the weighted average.

A student will only be considered \"not evaluable\" if he/she has handed in less than 30% of the evaluable evidences of the total of the subject. If this limit is exceeded, the grade will be a fail if it does not reach the established minimums.

The re-evaluation exercise will consist of an exercise of the whole syllabus of the subject; in no case will it be considered an alternative to raise the grade.

Copying written sources (internet, books, papers, etc.) will result in a 0 in the grade of the exercise and the loss of the whole subject.

Particular cases will be taken into account and will receive personalised treatment in accordance with the subject teacher's guidelines.

Students will have the right to review the results of the tests taken. The teaching staff will establish the mechanisms for doing so in due course.

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

Single assessment:

The subject will be assessed by applying the following procedures:

1. A theoretical and oral test face to face (40% of the mark).

2. Two reviews face to face (60% of the mark).

The omission of any of the parts that make up the single assessment will result ina zero when calculating the weighted average.

Only assessment activities submitted within the deadlines established by the subject teacher will be recovered; in no case may an exercise be submitted for the first time during the re-evaluation period.

The re-evaluation exercise will consist of an exercise of the entire syllabus of the subject; in no case will it be considered an alternative to raise the grade.

Copying written sources (internet, books, papers, etc.) will result in a 0 in the grade of the exercise and the loss of the whole subject.

Particular cases will be taken into account and will receive personalised treatment in accordance with the subject teacher's guidelines.

Students will have the right to review the results of the tests taken. The teaching staff will establish the mechanisms to do so in due course.

The same assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.

Not assessed students

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

Use of IA

This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for support tasks such as bibliographic or content-based searches. The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessedactivity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

Optional trip

A trip to the city of Córdoba will be organised from 11 to 13 January 2027 to study the case study of an ancient Caliphate city and how its various historical phases are reflected in its urban planning and monuments. This trip will be optional and participation will not affect the assessment.

Bibliography

Abulafia, D. La Lluita pel domini de la Mediterrània : la gran expansió catalana del 1200 al 1500, Veles i Vents Edicions, Sant Cugat del Vallès, 2025.

Aventín, M., Salrach, J.M. Història medieval de Catalunya, Proa, Barcelona, 1998.

Banegas, R. Sangre, dinero y poder. El negocio de la carne en la Barcelona bajomedieval.

Batlle, C. L'expansió baixmedieval. Segles XIII‑XV. Història de Catalunya, dirigida per P. Vilar, vol. III. Barcelona, 1987.

Bolòs, J. Catalunya Medieval. Una aproximació al territori i a la societat a l'edat mitjana, 2000.

Brufal, J. El món rural i urbà en la Lleida islàmica (s. XI-XII). Lleida i l’est del districte: Castelldans i el pla del Mascançà

Ortí, P., Verdés, P. (eds), Barcelona, esplendor i crisi del segle XV, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Museu d'Història de Barcelona, Barcelona, 2025.

Riera, A. Produir, distribuir, consumir. Estudis d’història econòmica i social sobre els territoris de llengua catalana a l’Edat Mitjana.

Riera, A. Els cereals i el pa en els països de llengua catalana a la baixa edat mitjana.

Ryder, A. El Naufragi de Catalunya.

Sabaté, F. El territori de Catalunya medieval: percepció de l’espai i divisió territorial al llarg de l’edat mitjana, Rafael Dalmau Editor, Barcelona, 1997.

Sabaté, F. Catalunya Medieval, vol. II de la Història de Catalunya dirigida per Albert Balcells, L'Esfera dels Llibres, Barcelona, 2006.

Sabaté, F. La Pena de Mort a la Catalunya Baixmedieval.

Sabaté, F. La dissort de la documentació medieval catalana.

Sabaté, F. Assalt militar en un museu a Catalunya en el segle XXI.

Salrach, J. M. Història dels Països Catalans. Vol. 1, Ed. Edhasa, 1980.

Salrach, J. M. El procés de feudalització (s,III-XII).Història de Catalunya, dir. P. Vilar, vol. 2, Barcelona, 1988.

Salrach, J. M. (dir.). Naixement de la Nació Catalana. Orígens i expansió (segles IX-XIV), Enciclopèdia Catalana, Barcelona, 2017.

Zimmermann, M. Naixement de Catalunya (segles VIII-XII). Ed. Base, Barcelona, 2023.

Vinyoles, T. Història de les dones a la Catalunya medieval.

Software

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	first semester	morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices	1	Catalan	first semester	morning-mixed