Celtic Civilisation 1B (U01993)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 8 ? Acronym : LLC-1-U01993

The course aims to explore the political, intellectual and cultural achievements of the Iron Age, medieval and modern Celts. Its particular emphases will be upon the contemporary situation and status of the Celtic languages and the impact of ancient, medieval and modern state-formation upon the Celtic-speaking peoples. The content of the course reflects the multidisciplinary nature of Celtic studies. Although self-contained in its own right, the course complements its 'sister-course' of sorts, 'Celtic Civilisation 1A'. The principal objective of the course is to provide students with an introduction to the medieval and modern cultural histories of contemporary Celtic peoples. It also introduces them to the complex nature of the challenges presented by state-formation that have threatened, and continue in the present to threaten, the future of the Celtic languages.

Entry Requirements

? Costs : Course materials, cost not to exceed £10

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Celtic, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 1st year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 4 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2007	14:00	14:50	Teviot Lecture Theatre, Medical School, Teviot	Med+Vet

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	14:00	14:50	Central
Lecture	Tuesday	14:00	14:50	Central
Lecture	Thursday	14:00	14:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : Plus tutorial 1 hour

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

The course encourages students to re-assess their assumptions (and those of popular culture) regarding the origins, outlooks and characteristics of the Celtic peoples past and present, and the role that has been traditionally assigned to these peoples in 'national' histories. Students will engage directly with key historical sources (in translation), examples of Celtic literature (in translation), and government statistics, and will be encouraged to think outside the traditional boundaries of national histories to consider broader trends in social and political history and sociology. Above all, they will emerge from the course with an appreciation of the complexity of the phenomena of state-formation and language decline as they pertain to speakers of Celtic languages, and the vitality, despite uncertain futures, of the contemporary Celtic languages. They will also have developed the skills to engage critically with approaches to these topics that may be inclined to view them in overly narrow or simplistic ways. Thus, for those students who intend to carry on in Celtic studies at Honours level, the course will be important preparation.

Assessment Information

Two individual essays of 1500-2000 words, and a two-hour Degree Examination in the May diet. The essays together will count as 50% of the final grade; the exam as 50%. A substantial amount of essay-related guidance will be included in the course documentation available to all students.