131-451 Historians and Ritual

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in history.

This subject is a study of the ways in which ritual has influenced the historical interpretation of medieval and early modern European history over the last three decades. Students will focus on the recent historical concern with ritual structure and behaviour, such as rites of passage, the ritual calendar, the ritual process of government, royal and coronation rituals, religious rituals, body ritual and gesture, festivity and carnival, and will endeavour to evaluate the significance and limitations of this historiographical approach for an understanding of European history and historical explanation. Attention will also be given to the source and elaboration of ritual theories.

Written work totalling 5000 words for 4th year, 5000 words and a class paper for masters students.

A subject reader will be available.