The module aims to describe how Western Europe got to know about classical works which had been long lost. This was thanks to the cultural contacts with the Roman Eastern Empire and the Muslim world. The module offers a historical, religious and linguistic introduction before focusing on the translation and cultural issues, such as literature, music, architecture and others. There is also an overview of the religion and culture of Islam and its influence on Medieval Europe. Between the eleventh and fourteenth century Italy, Spain and the Eastern Empire played a vital role in the transmission of ancient philosophical and scientific knowledge in the Mediterranean area which would eventually lead to the development of the Renaissance.

·         Show perception of the history of translation in the broader context of European history and culture.

·         Understand the importance of translation in the transmission of culture, specifically in European culture.

·         Understand the historical, social and cultural background of the period examined.

·         Familiarise themselves with the literatures, myths and other cultural expressions of the medieval period.

·         Discuss in an informed manner the importance of the cultural and translation activities carried out at the School of Sicily and the Toledo School of Translators.

There will be lectures and seminars up to 28 hours annually, including in-depth revision classes at the end of the semester.

On completion of the module a student will be able to:

·         A capacity for analysing and evaluating complex arguments.

·         Demonstrate a high level of critical awareness, and the ability to argue and rebut a case, justifying own viewpoint, in analysis and comparison of a range of works, considered in relation to the Italian and Spanish context.

·         Show ability to present arguments in a structured, logical and coherent manner.

·         Demonstrate basic word-processing skills.

1.      Introduction: the end of the Roman Empire.

2.      The Barbaric Invasions.

3.      The arrival of Islam in Europe. Sicily and the Iberian Peninsula.

4.      Europe in the High Middle Ages. Society, History and Politics.

5.      Europe in the High Middle Ages. Literature, myths, music and other cultural expressions.

6.      The role of Translation in the development of the vernacular.

7.      The road towards the end of the Middle Ages.

Burrus, V. (ed.) (2005). Late Ancient Christianity. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

Cano Aguilar, R. (1991). El español a través de los tiempos. Madrid: Arco Libros.

Cantor,N. (1994). The Civilization of the Middle Ages.  London: Harper.

Curtius, E. (1991). European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Hard, R. (ed.& trans.) (1997). Apollodorus. The Library of Greek Mythology. Oxford: O.U.P.

Houben, H. (1999). Ruggero II di Sicilia. Un sovrano tra Oriente e Occidente,Bari: Editori Laterza.

Innes, M. (2007). Introduction to Early Medieval Western Europe. London: Routledge.

Lafarga, F &L. Pergenaute (2004). Historia de la Traducción en España. Salamanca: Editorial Ambos Mundos.

Le Geoff, J. (1988). The Medieval Imagination. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

McKitterick, R. (2001). The Early Middle Ages. Oxford: O.U.P.

Molinini, D. (2007). La géographie d’Idrisi-Roger. Une synthèse entre Orient et Occident. Mémoire de Master M2, Paris.

Price, B. (1992). Medieval Thought. Oxford: Blackwell.

Shahar, S. (2007). The Fourth Estate. London: Routledge.