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HIST296: An Age of Trauma? The Political History of the Late Medieval British Isles (c. 1280-1510)

In most historical eras, English expansionism is the predominant political theme of British History. During the later Middle ages, however, this went into reverse: whereas in the first part of the 14th century the English crown was poised to complete its conquest of all the British Isles and to take over much of France, by the later 15th century virtually all its French and Scottish conquests had been lost, its control over Ireland had mostly collapsed, and even Wales was problematic. Moreover foreign failure was accompanied by internal conflict: more than half the English kings of the period were driven off the throne by rebellious nobles, especially during the Wars of the Roses. This course will therefore explore, analyse and explain what was happening and what was going on during this traumatic era, from both an English and, especially, a British perspective; in particular, comparisons with the significantly different Scotland are used to illuminate the history of both realms. But while the stresses of foreign and domestic warfare caused huge problems, they also stimulated fundamentally important developments that helped make the British state what it is today, with respect to the balance between royal and aristocratic power, the recruitment and maintenance of armies, the machinery and corruption of government, the system of finance, the growth of Parliament, and the maintenance of law and order. The narrative and underlying themes of the course are all expounded in the lectures, while linked seminars focus on selected issues for student-led discussion.

For further information on HIST296 visit the Lancaster University Online Courses Handbook.

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