CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR UNDERGRADUATES
COMMERCE AND CATASTROPHE: LONDON AD 50-1700
Key Information
Module code
Taught during
Module workload
Module leader
Department
Credit
Level
Pre-requisites
Assessment
ISSU1021
Block Two: Monday 25 July – Friday 12 August 2016
45 teaching hours plus approximately 100 study hours
Gustav Milne and Dr Stuart Brookes
Archaeology, Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences
0.5 UCL credits, 7.5 ECTS, 4 US
Level 1, first year Undergraduate
Standard entry requirements
Fieldtrip diary (25%)
2,500-word essay (75%)
Module Overview
The course reviews the turbulent development of London from the Roman period (c AD 47) to the rebuilding
of the City after the Great Fire of 1666, integrating archaeological, architectural and documentary sources. It
considers the non-linear trajectory its development, noting the serious setbacks such (rebellions, foreign
invasions, conflagrations, major plague) and the impacts these had on its ultimately successful commercial
expansion
Week One
 Round Table and Introduction to course/ visit Museum of London
 Rise of Londinium AD-47-200;
 Fall of Londonium AD 200-457
 Review seminar
Week Two
 Saxons & Vikings: Rise and Fall of Lundenwic AD600-886
 Saxons & Normans AD 886 to 1200
 Port of Medieval London AD900 to 1500
 Review seminar
Please note that this module description is indicative and may be subject to change.
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Week Three
 Medieval Churches & the Black Death AD900-1350
 Monastic London: Reformation & Dissolution AD1000-1550
 Tudors, Stuarts, Rebellion, Great Plague & Fire 1550-1700
 Review seminar and course evaluation
Module Aims
The course will provide students with a grounding in the historical geography and chronological development
of the city in which they are now living. It will introduce them to some of the sources used to compile that
history, and some of the key surviving sites, buildings, monuments, museums and archaeological collections
that can be used to illustrate that development. The course will be delivered through a series of classroom
presentations and discussions, but supplemented by a series of field trips and museum visits.
Teaching Methods
Interactive lectures and seminars, open class and small group discussions, excursions, group work and private
study. Reading lists will be available online via the UCL library site. Students will be directed towards class
materials, further support and discussion forums on Moodle.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, students will have:
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an understanding of the city’s development from AD50 to1700
an understanding of the city’s historical geography
a familiarity with key published sources for the study of London’s early history
an understanding of key differences between archaeological and historical sources;
a familiarity with key museums, collections, sites and monuments that support such studies
Assessment Methods
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Fieldtrip diary (25%)
2,500-word essay (75%)
Key Texts
Bateman, N. 2000. Gladiators at the Guildhall. MoLAS.
Brooke C. & Keir G. 1975 London 800-1216: The shaping of a city.
Clark J. 1989 Saxon and Norman London.
Clout H. (ed) 1997. The Times London History Atlas,
Grimes W. 1968 The Excavation of Roman and Medieval London
Hall J. & Merrifield R. 2000. Roman London.
Haynes I., Sheldon H. & Hannigan L. 2000. London Under Ground. The Archaeology of a City.
Malcom, G & Bowsher, D, 2003 Middle Saxon London: excavations at the Royal Opera House 1989-99
MoLAS mono 15
Milne G. 1985. The Port of Roman London
Milne G. 1986. The Great Fire of London.
Milne G. 1992 From Roman Basilica to Medieval Market HMSO
Please note that this module description is indicative and may be subject to change.
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Milne G. 1995. Roman London.
Milne G. 2003. The Medieval Port of London.
Perring D. 1991. Roman London.
Rowsome P. 2000. Heart of the City. Museum of London Archaeology Service.
Ross, C & Clark, J (eds) 2008 London: the illustrated history (Penguin/ MoL)
Schofield J. 1995. Medieval London Houses.
Schofield, J. 2011 London 1100-1600: the archaeology of a capital city
Thomas C. 2002. The Archaeology of Medieval London.
Shepherd F. 1991. The Treasury of London’s past (HMSO)
Thomas C. (ed) 2003. London’s Archaeological secrets. A World city revealed.
Vince A. 1990. Saxon London: an Archaeological Investigation.
Watson B. (ed) 1998. Roman London: recent archaeological work.
Weinreb B. & Hibbert C. 1983. The London Encyclopaedia
Please note that this module description is indicative and may be subject to change.
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