Terrific Tudors: Act Three: Social life
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
- Course Code: HBH42
- Dates: 15/05/24 - 19/06/24
- Time: 19:30 - 21:30
- Taught: Wed, Evening
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Vanessa King
Course Code: HBH42
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The life and times of men and women during the second half of the sixteenth century.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
We begin by discussing the rise of local history studies as a discipline with the publication of maps and the publications of works such as John Leland’s Itineraries (1540s), William Harrison’s Description of England (1577) and John Stow’s Survey of London (1598). We will then move on to look at the impact on peoples’ lives of the religious upheavals of the period followed by topics such as employment, crime and punishment and medicine. Before our final session everyone will be encouraged to choose a chapter from William Harrison’s Description of England (which are very short) to read and comment upon when we meet.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Describe the contents of at least two Tudor authors who wrote about local history
• Identify common causes of death in Tudor England
• Explain how the Reformation impacted upon the production of wills and funerary display
• Describe the employment opportunities available for men and women in the latter half of the sixteenth century
• Read and evaluate a short extract from Harrison’s Description of England published in 1577.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No prior knowledge is required. However, a good standard of reading, writing and speaking English is essential.
An open mind and a willingness to engage respectfully in class discussion and debate.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
PowerPoint will be used to illustrate key points and then we will be reading and discussing contemporary sources (in translation). You will be encouraged to share your thoughts and ideas in a relaxed and friendly environment. There will be occasional homework reading provided but it is not obligatory.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No other costs. Please bring a pen and notepad if you wish to make notes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Other courses in British and Irish history. A cycle of 17th Century English history courses will be starting in September. Please see the City Lit website.
Vanessa King is a reitred university lecturer in Medieval and early Modern History. She is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and Honorary Fellow of Birkbeck College University of London. At City Lit, Vanessa offers courses and day schools on London, European, and Global Encounters in the Far East. She has published widely on the Anglo-Norman period (1066-1154), and is currently writing a book on Early English Queenship 600-1066 for Routledge. You can follow her progress via her website: https://queenshipinpreconquestengland.wordpress.com/ Vanessa’s expertise in medieval matters means she is frequently called upon to give public lectures and speak on BBC Radio. Vanessa's philosophy of teaching is to make history come alive through informative presentations with a good sense of humour. In her spare time, she enjoys nothing better than talking history over a glass of red wine!
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
