2025
History of Medieval Portugal
Name: History of Medieval Portugal
Code: HIS02394L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
History
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
This discipline proposes a political perspective of the History of Portugal (12th to the 15th centuries), from the origin of the Portuguese kingdom to the beginning of the Early Modern era.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
The History of Medieval Portugal module aims to:
1. Discuss the roots of Portugal?s origin from the evolution of the preceding Iberian political framework since the eight century
2. Debate the process of affirmation and consolidation of the Kingdom of Portugal between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries
3. Equip students with theoretical and factual knowledge about Portugal?s political, military, and institutional history, enabling them to acquire concepts
4. Understand the transformations of the Portuguese kingdom with the beginning of overseas expansion from the fifteenth century onwards
5. Examine the elements of continuity and political and social change in the long term
6. Promote student interaction with primary and secondary sources, encouraging academic autonomy and critical thinking in reading, debate, and analysis of the past
7. Instill a sensitivity to historical interpretation with the aim of preparing students for societal challenges and apocryphal history
1. Discuss the roots of Portugal?s origin from the evolution of the preceding Iberian political framework since the eight century
2. Debate the process of affirmation and consolidation of the Kingdom of Portugal between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries
3. Equip students with theoretical and factual knowledge about Portugal?s political, military, and institutional history, enabling them to acquire concepts
4. Understand the transformations of the Portuguese kingdom with the beginning of overseas expansion from the fifteenth century onwards
5. Examine the elements of continuity and political and social change in the long term
6. Promote student interaction with primary and secondary sources, encouraging academic autonomy and critical thinking in reading, debate, and analysis of the past
7. Instill a sensitivity to historical interpretation with the aim of preparing students for societal challenges and apocryphal history
Contents
1. The Roman, Germanic, and Islamic legacy in the origin of the Kingdom of Portugal
2. The Christian Reconquista and al-Andalus in western Iberia
3. The County of Portugal and the formation of the Kingdom of Portugal, ninth to twelfth centuries
4. The political and territorial consolidation of the Portuguese kingdom, twelfth and thirteenth centuries
5. The political and institutional formation of the monarchy, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries
6. Portugal in the crisis of the fourteenth century
7. The Interregnum of 1383?1385 and the emergence of the Avis dynasty
8. The political projection of Portugal in Europe and the Atlantic in the fifteenth century
2. The Christian Reconquista and al-Andalus in western Iberia
3. The County of Portugal and the formation of the Kingdom of Portugal, ninth to twelfth centuries
4. The political and territorial consolidation of the Portuguese kingdom, twelfth and thirteenth centuries
5. The political and institutional formation of the monarchy, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries
6. Portugal in the crisis of the fourteenth century
7. The Interregnum of 1383?1385 and the emergence of the Avis dynasty
8. The political projection of Portugal in Europe and the Atlantic in the fifteenth century
Teaching Methods
The curricular unit on History of Medieval Portugal will adopt a variety of teaching methodologies, including:
1. Oral communication for the presentation, discussion, and argumentation of the programmatic content, employing an inquiry-based and problematising approach to teaching.
2. Encouraging participation in debates, problem-solving activities, and oral presentations by students.
3. Promoting dialogue, collaborative work, and constructive criticism among peers, aimed at developing original thinking on the part of students.
4. Connecting learning with societal challenges that facilitate an understanding of historical legacies.
5. Utilising digital tools and resources for the construction of knowledge, the interpretation of graphic and visual representations of history, and the development of critical thinking.
1. Oral communication for the presentation, discussion, and argumentation of the programmatic content, employing an inquiry-based and problematising approach to teaching.
2. Encouraging participation in debates, problem-solving activities, and oral presentations by students.
3. Promoting dialogue, collaborative work, and constructive criticism among peers, aimed at developing original thinking on the part of students.
4. Connecting learning with societal challenges that facilitate an understanding of historical legacies.
5. Utilising digital tools and resources for the construction of knowledge, the interpretation of graphic and visual representations of history, and the development of critical thinking.
Assessment
The course offers two assessment models: 1) continuous assessment and 2) a final exam covering all the material taught.
Continuous assessment will depend on the fulfillment of the following elements:
1. Attendance and oral participation in (10%): students must be present in 75% of classes (i.e., they can miss a maximum of 6 classes).
2. Written assignment with oral presentation (40%): this will consist of writing an essay (up to 2000 words) on a topic previously discussed with the lecturer.
3. Final exam at the end of the semester (50%).
Students who choose to be assessed by final exam should take the following weighting into account: 90% will correspond to the written exam grade + 10% corresponding to attendance and participation in class.
Continuous assessment will depend on the fulfillment of the following elements:
1. Attendance and oral participation in (10%): students must be present in 75% of classes (i.e., they can miss a maximum of 6 classes).
2. Written assignment with oral presentation (40%): this will consist of writing an essay (up to 2000 words) on a topic previously discussed with the lecturer.
3. Final exam at the end of the semester (50%).
Students who choose to be assessed by final exam should take the following weighting into account: 90% will correspond to the written exam grade + 10% corresponding to attendance and participation in class.
Teaching Staff
- Flávio Miguel Fernandes Miranda [responsible]
Certificações
