Medieval History

 

Abimelech Destroying Shechem; Abimelech Killed by the Woman of Thebes
A burial

 

Woman in Glass

 

Medieval Banner

 

The Medieval History strand offers a unique balance of breadth and depth in the study of the medieval history of Britain and Europe. Oxford is home to probably the largest community of medieval historians in the world, including scholars whose research interests range from the fourth to the sixteenth century, and from Ireland to Iran.  The resources for study are equally exceptional, including the largest university library collection of medieval manuscripts, college collections of manuscripts and archives, and the fine holdings of the Ashmolean Museum.  Many of these are available digitally. 

The course is not prescriptive about what topics you choose to study, but instead insists on intellectual rigour and excitement, whatever your choices.  You will also attend seminars given by leading experts, and have the opportunity to meet medievalists from all over the world. The emphasis is on historical skills and knowledge; applicants interested in specialising in medieval languages or medieval palaeography and manuscript studies are advised also to consider applying for the MSt Medieval Studies or the MSt/MPhil Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, both of which are also proven routes to a doctorate in Medieval History.

All students can take the pre-term Latin course in September and will be contacted with details in the summer beforehand. You are expected to take Latin (at beginners, intermediate or advanced level, depending on previous experience) during term and will be introduced to the study of medieval handwriting, books and documents (Palaeography and Diplomatic). You will not be formally examined on these skills, but will be helped to take them seriously, and will have plenty of opportunity to practise them. You will be encouraged to put them to use in an assessed essay and/or your dissertation, and will also have the opportunity to work on original manuscript books and documents from Oxford’s many collections, and elsewhere, if you wish.  In consultation with your supervisor and depending on your choice of topic, instruction in Old English and other medieval languages is available, and also in modern languages such as French, German or Italian.

Options of particular interest are:

Throughout the degree, students work towards a dissertation.  Recent topics have included: 

  • Pagans and Christians in late Roman North Africa
  • From Roman-Briton to Anglo-Saxon: changing conceptions of fourth- to sixth-century identity
  • Marriage and family in Gregory of Tours
  • Saxon monastic life and Carolingian politics
  • The Apocalypse in eighth and ninth century Iberia
  • Virginity and female sanctity in late Anglo-Saxon England
  • Lordship and the evidence of charter diplomatic in twelfth-century Normandy
  • Jews, blood, Christians, and privies in medieval England
  • Gendering the common voice in later medieval England
  • Marriage as resolution in Rape Cases
  • The translation of saints' relics as political ritual
  • The Order of St John and the problem of sovereignty in Outremer
  • Images of self and others in medieval Serb, Ragusan and Bosnian sources
  • The logic of political conflict in late medieval Tournai
  • Images of community and the question of urban estate in fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Poznan
  • Material culture and the creation of meaning in late medieval wills

Faculty and Research Culture

There are particular concentrations of expertise in late antique and early medieval history; Byzantine history; medieval political cultures, especially Britain and France; intellectual history; material culture; religious and cultural history; women and gender.  Thinking about the global dimensions of medieval history has been a growing focus of interest in recent years.

More information on our academics and their subjects, please search within our people section.

In addition to our own research, graduate students come together with teaching and research staff in research seminars to hear speakers including doctoral students, external and internal to the university.  The weekly Medieval History research seminar is enhanced by a dozen other seminars or workshops in Medieval History and/or Medieval Studies (for example, there are seminars in Medieval Church and Culture, Late Antique and Byzantine Art and Archaeology, Medieval English).  A termly booklet provides a convenient roundup of the many seminars, workshops and conferences within Oxford.

Major research projects further enhance Oxfords research culture, including: