HS1020: Antisemitism: Medieval Christian-Jewish Relations and the Concept of ‘Antisemitism’

Module code: HS1020

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Rebecca Rist, email: r.a.c.rist@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module ‘Antisemitism: Medieval Christian-Jewish Relations and the Concept of “Antisemitism”’ examines the concept of antisemitism in relation to one particular period of History: the High Middle Ages (1095-1291). The module aims to explore the story of a key contemporary idea (antisemitism) by setting it in its long-term historical context. It aims to show how understanding of an earlier period of History (in this case the medieval period) can help us better to understand the modern world, while also allowing students to follow up a topic in which they have a particular interest in more depth.  

• Introduce students to Jewish-Christian relations in the High Middle Ages and the debates that surround them; 
• Introduce students to the study of ideas in historical context;  
• Encourage students to reflect critically upon the historical basis of medieval ideas. 

The purpose of the module is to equip students with an understanding of key medieval texts and modern historiographical debates, and to develop their skills and ability to analyse ideas in historical context in subsequent modules.    

Module learning outcomes

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

• identify the sources of the topic in question and trace its historical development;  
• be aware of differing historiographical interpretations of the patterns and causes of this development;  
• organise material and articulate arguments effectively in writing, both under timed conditions and in assessed essays; and  
• demonstrate familiarity with bibliographical conventions and mastery of library skills.    

Module content

This module will explore the concept of ‘antisemitism’. The concept of ‘antisemitism’ as we know it is a modern one: the word was coined circa 1873 by Wilhelm Marr to describe and advocate a certain ‘racist’ view of Jews which was then further developed during the second half of the nineteenth century. This Option will discuss the concept of ‘antisemitism’ and the related concept of ‘anti-Judaism’ through the medieval, early modern and modern periods with particular reference to Jewish-Christian relations during the High Middle Ages (1095-1291). Hence the core of the course will remain medieval but will also bring in a comparative contemporary element. Themes to be explored will include the impact of the crusades on medieval Jewish communities, the rise of charges of blood libel, ritual murder and host desecration during the period, the imposition of anti-Jewish legislation by both the medieval Church and secular authorities, the motif of the Jewish moneylender, and the use of rhetoric and imagery to portray Jews and Judaism in medieval preaching and polemic.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching is by eleven weekly two-hour seminars.

Fortnightly workshop sessions will give practical advice on working towards the assessment and practice time for skills related to the module.

Study hours

At least 27 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

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 each of the summative assessments.

Reassessment

Additional costs