This course looks at the origins of the Polish state, its influence on the development of neighbours such as Russia, Germany and Bohemia, the union with Lithuania, the struggle with the Teutonic Knights and rise to pre-eminence in the 15th century, its tumultuous religious Reformation and its decline and partition in the eighteenth century. Although Polish history has been described as 'medieval history as it ought to be' the course will explore beyond national myths and stereotypes to look at politics and society on Europe's north-eastern frontier.

Two one-hour sessions per week as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

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Assessment

Examination - 120 minutes duration (50%)

Coursework - class essay (2,000 words) (40%)

Coursework - One seminar presentation of 10 minutes accompanied submission of written notes and any visual aids

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ prepare students for independent and original analysis of a complex range of evidence, including source materials, thereby developing intellectual skills that will be of benefit in a wide range of careers.

Students' research capacity will be enriched by their introduction to diverse source materials and their oral and written communication skills enhanced in ways designed to address employers' expectations for highly literate and highly articulate graduates who are fully cognisant of a range of research tools.

■ show students how a professional historian works.

By supporting students in the production of their essay and seminar presentation, students will gain first hand experience of the scoping and shaping of research projects and the challenges faced by historians in the pursuit of advances in knowledge.

■ familiarise students, through source-criticism, with a wide-range of problems of interpretation arising from different usages of language, underlying meanings and intentions, differing standards of objectivity, and the variety of purpose and intent associated with historical evidence (written, visual or other).

The critical interpretation of key historiographical and theoretical debates relating to this subject will inform the close reading of sources. Provenance, perspective, context, intent and audience will be core considerations in students' interpretation of sources.

■ ensure, through student-led discussion, that the relative validity of alternative historical interpretations is fully recognised. The seminars aim to encourage student-led learning and the facilitation of rigorous and informed debate.

■ encourage students to develop imagination, skills and self-discipline required to master a similarly demanding brief in the future, whether in historical research or in any sphere or employment where these qualities are valuable.

Students will be encouraged to reflect on the range of generic research and communication skills they are developing over the course of this course in order to align their academic and professional aspirations and competencies and encourage reflective practice.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ analyse the debates regarding the origins of the Slavs and Polish state.

■ place Poland within its European context especially in regard to the Holy Roman Empire, the Duchy of Lithuania, Muscovy and the kingdom of Bohemia.

■ evaluate the role of religion in Polish society in regard to the conversion of Lithuania, relations with Orthodox lands to the east and the divisions between Protestant and Catholic churches in the 16th and 17th centuries.

■ assess the effects of urban and rural economic development on Polish society over this period.

■ appraise the role of literary and artistic artefacts in medieval and early modern Poland.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.