This module aims to introduce students to a broad coverage of late medieval history, including social, economic, military, political, intellectual, religious and cultural history. The course will cover the period from around 1050, at the core of what has been labelled 'the first European revolution', through to c.1500 as a commonly accepted (if arbitrary) date for the ending of 'the Middle Ages'. The focus will be primarily be on western continental Europe, Britain, and Ireland, with some exploration of a wider world where appropriate. Students will examine the developments of the period through lectures and directed reading, to gain awareness of key issues involved in the scholarly study of the period.