Magic and Heresy in Medieval Europe



Overview

This course looks at heresy and magic in High and Late Medieval Europe, and their role in the development of witchcraft as a concept towards the end of the Middle Ages. It begins with an examination of some of the major heretical groups in Europe, their beliefs, and their practices as portrayed by the groups themselves and by religious and secular authorities. This will be followed by an examination of various types of magical beliefs and practices, and their relationship to medieval religion and natural philosophy.

The course will end by examining how beliefs about heresy, heretics, and heretical practices were combined with beliefs about magic, magicians, and magical practices to help create the witch as the ultimate heretic and witchcraft as the ultimate heresy. 

Programme details

Courses starts: 23 Jan 2025

Week 1: Definitions

Week 2: Waldensians and Cathars

Week 3: Spiritual Franciscans and Joachimites

Week 4: The natural and supernatural universe

Week 5: Necromancy

Week 6: Astrology and natural magic

Week 7: Popular religion

Week 8: Show trials and political magic

Week 9: The creation of witches and witchcraft

Week 10: A persecuting society?

Certification

To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00
Take this course for CATS points £30.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Trish Stewart

Patricia Stewart completed her PhD in Mediaeval History at the University of St Andrews and works as a Science Editor for the Oxford English Dictionary. She specialises in manuscript studies and the history of science and magic.

Course aims

To develop students' knowledge and understanding of medieval heresy and magic, and the role these played in the development of ideas about witchcraft in the later Middle Ages.

Course objectives:

1. To gain knowledge of medieval heretical and magical beliefs and practices.

2. To develop an understanding of the role that medieval heretical and magical beliefs and practices played in the development of witchcraft.

3. To analyse primary source material and assess its value as historical evidence; to evaluate arguments presented in secondary source material.

Teaching methods

The course will be taught through informal lectures, small-group work, and class discussions.  Students will be provided with the primary source material that will form the basis of group work and discussions, as well as supplementary material to aid in source analysis.  Some  reading between sessions will be expected of students.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

1. Demonstrate a knowledge of various medieval heretical and magical beliefs and practices.

2. Understand how medieval beliefs about heresy and magic were instrumental in the development of later beliefs about witches and witchcraft.

3. Develop skills in analysing primary sources and assessing their value as historical evidence; develop skills in reading secondary sources and evaluating the authors' arguments.

Assessment methods

Students will complete one 1500-word essay, chosen from a list of topics provided, or on a topic of the student's own choice that has been approved by the tutor.   Students will be invited to submit, for formative assessment, a 500-word essay plan and bibliography.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)

Level and demands

No prior background knowledge is required.

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support