Research Seminar: Middle Ages [LHISB307]

Learning outcomes

- To acquire a broad general and interdisciplinary culture by opening up to other disciplines and understanding the links they have with History. - Learn to read and communicate in at least one language other than French. - To develop critical thinking and scientific reasoning skills. - To develop specialist knowledge in areas of the historical discipline and to understand the issues of the discipline. - To acquire the techniques of analysis and interpretation of historical sources, as well as a reflective and critical awareness in the practice of the historical approach. - To learn how to implement a research question in history and to master the tools and working methods specific to the discipline. - Mastering scientific communication by respecting the rules of reference and publication. - Acquire a strong capacity to analyse information, to synthesise and to write.

Objectives

At the end of this seminar, the student must demonstrate mastery of all the stages of historical research, from the development of a research problem to the presentation of the results of his or her investigation, including the search for sources, their criticism and the use of the data collected.

Content

During the academic year 2022-2023, the "Research Seminar - Middle Ages" will focus on the material and human environment of the Cistercian abbey Notre-Dame du Vivier (Marche-les-Dames, Namur) from the 13th to the 15th century. The documentation used will mainly consist of the acts from the institution's charter book, which is kept in the State Archives in Namur. As the former monastic site is currently being excavated, archaeological data may be integrated into the analysis.