HS3T102-Melancholy Medicine: Healing the Body and Mind in Early Modern England, 1570-1730

Module Provider: History
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Ms Amie Bolissian McRae
Email: a.bolissian2@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Melancholy might lead to madness, and fear could cause the plague in early modern understandings of health and medicine in England. This module explores these sorts of beliefs about emotions, health, and the body, and the physicians, surgeons, apothecaries, and lay healers who provided medical treatment. By examining a wide range of primary sources, such as handwritten diaries, medicinal recipe books, and surgeon’s casebooks, key questions will be asked about who treated diseases, how they thought bodies worked, and what patients felt about being sick - during a period which treated sadness with sneezing powder, and fear with leeches. Particular attention will be paid to how bodily health and emotional temperament was thought to differ according to gender, age, race, and disability.

Aims:

Part 3 Options involve the study of specific periods, subjects or types of history.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will be able to: 

• identify and explain the main issues and events studied


• appraise critically the primary sources and historiographical interpretations of the subject


• assess the nature of social, economic, political and cultural change and the particular methodologies associated with tracing it


• organise material and articulate arguments effectively indifferent kinds of written exercises and orally


• locate and assemble bibliographic and other information by independent research, using IT as appropriate

Additional outcomes:

The module aims to encourage the development of oral communication skills and the student’s effectiveness in group situations and team-working. Students will also develop their IT skills by use of relevant web resources and databases, where appropriate.

Outline content:

This module examines the latest research in the history of the body, health, and emotions in early modern England, c.1570-1730. It is divided into three sections, firstly asking: who treated sick people during this period? And where were they treated? We investigate the different, but sometimes overlapping, roles of physicians, surgeons, apothecaries, and lay healers, how they trained, and how they fitted into early modern society. The second section examines ideas about medicine and the body, and how disease and disability were thought to be caused: perhaps from cold weather, a fright during pregnancy, contagious smells, or curses. It explores types of treatment, from leeches to poultices, and asks why gender, age, and regional differences were thought to strongly influence health and disease. The final section looks at how disease and healing were believed to be closely linked to a person’s ‘passions’, or emotions: for example, fear might cause infection, but cheerfulness could cure illness. We will see that these ideas not only appear in medical and health books from the time, but also many other sources, such as diaries, letters, doctor’s handwritten casebooks, medicinal manuscript recipe books, and popular broadside ballads. In each of the three sections we will analyse two different genres of source to assess their contribution to our evolving understandings of health and emotions during this period of English history.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Seminars, requiring preparatory reading and investigation, may include informal and interactive presentations by the module teacher; structured group discussion; short seminar papers by students; occasional tutorials; team-based simulation exercises and debates; examination of primary and secondary sources, as appropriate. Staff will be available for consultation as necessary.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10
Seminars	20		1
Project Supervision	1
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	40
Wider reading (directed)	40
Advance preparation for classes	10
Preparation for presentations	3
Revision and preparation			35
Essay preparation	30
Reflection	10
Total hours by term	164	0	36
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Portfolio	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will produce one coursework portfolio of 2,500 words, to be handed in by 12 noon on the Monday of week 9 of term, which should be submitted electronically via Blackboard. Five marks will be deducted if the coursework portfolio exceeds 2,625 words (i.e. 5% over the word limit).

Students will also write an essay of 2,500 words, due in by 12 noon on the Thursday of week 2 of summer term, which should be submitted electronically via Blackboard. Five marks will be deducted if the coursework essay exceeds 2,625 words (i.e. 5% over the word limit).

Formative assessment methods:

1,000 words or 2 pages of A4 maximum to include, at the module convenor’s discretion, an essay plan, bibliography, book review or other preparatory work towards the summative essay.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

Failed coursework must be re-submitted by 12 noon, on the third Friday of August.

A candidate who has failed or has not achieved at least Third Class Honours in the Final Examination for a Bachelor’s degree at the first attempt shall have the right to be re-assessed on only one further occasion at the next opportunity (normally August), and, if they elect to be re-assessed, may only be re-assessed in those modules in the Final Part in which they achieved less than 40. Subject to this restriction, a re-examinee may select those modules in which they wish to be re-assessed. A re-examinee will be given a mark for the re-assessed module which reflects the candidate’s performance in the re-assessment. This mark will be recorded on the candidate’s transcript and Diploma Supplement. However, the mark to be used in determining the classification is the higher of (a) the first attempt mark or (b) the lower of 40 and the mark achieved in the re-examination. A candidate who is re-assessed in the Final Part of a Bachelor’s degree shall be eligible for classified Honours, which shall be determined on the basis of the full array of marks relevant to classification, including capped re-assessment marks. The classification itself is not capped. The registration of a candidate who fails the Final Examination at the second attempt shall be terminated and shall not normally be permitted to register for an alternative programme at the same or a higher level. Candidates whose registration is terminated due to failure in the Final Examination may be eligible for a lesser award.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:

2) Specialist equipment or materials:

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:

4) Printing and binding:

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 30 March 2023