2016/7 - HIS-4004B WITCHCRAFT, MAGIC AND BELIEF IN EARLY MODERN
EUROPE
Spring Semester, Level 4 module
(Maximum 200 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Professor Malcolm Gaskill
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:D5*E3, U
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module examines the history of early modern Europe through the history of witchcraft,
witch-beliefs, and especially witchcraft prosecutions after 1500. Through learned
demonology and folk traditions, we explore the development of the idea of the witch, and see
how during the turbulent era of the Reformation this thinking translated into legal trials and,
occasionally some savage witch-panics. We look in detail at subjects such as gender, fear and
anxiety, state building, and scepticism, ranging across early modern Britain, continental
Europe and colonial America.
2016/7 - HIS-4006B THE AGE OF EXTREMES: EUROPE 1918 - 2001
Spring Semester, Level 4 module
(Maximum 222 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr David Gilks
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Timetable Slot:A3*A5*A2,U
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This module examines the dramatic history of Europe during the twentieth century in its
global context. It will consider the century’s turbulent swings between war and peace before
discussing the economic revolutions that engulfed the globe. The complex interactions
between humans and the natural environment will form a central part of the module, before
discussion of the ideological fissures that divided Europe for much of the twentieth century.
The concluding section will consider the development of popular social movements and how
they have shaped Europe.
2016/7 - HIS-4008B HISTORY, CONTROVERSY AND DEBATE
Spring Semester, Level 4 module
(Maximum 215 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Becky Taylor
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination
Timetable Slot:C3A6
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
History is controversial, and always has been. This is your chance to explore some of the
roles it has played, and continues to play, throughout recorded human experience. This
module will explore the place that history occupies in our society, the ways it has been used,
and the vastly differing methods used to study it. It will be taught by specialists of different
periods. Through the exploration of a series of debates and controversies, in which you will
be encouraged to participate, the module will explore topics as diverse as the role of the
individual in history, the development of myths and invented traditions, the place of religion,
conflict and division and history in media and culture.
2016/7 - HIS-5003B THE ENGLISH LANDSCAPE 1066 TO 1600
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 18 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Jon Gregory
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:C1*D9,C3/D4/D5
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
Minor changes to module description: This module will examine the development of the
English countryside from late Saxon times into the seventeenth century. Topics covered will
include the archaeology and landscape setting of castles, monasteries, parish churches,
vernacular buildings and deserted settlements, alongside an examination of ‘semi-natural’
landscapes including ancient woodland, wood-pastures, heathland and moorland. The module
will allow you develop practical skills in the analysis of earthwork plans, building surveys
and historic maps both in seminars and on field trips.
2016/7 - HIS-5004B LATIN FOR HISTORIANS
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Stephen O'Connor
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:E1*E2*E3
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module provides an introduction to the linguistic skills in medieval Latin which enable
students to read administrative documents such as charters, accounts, court rolls, etc. It is
particularly suited for those who intend proceeding to postgraduate study in aspects of the
past, such as medieval history, which require a reading knowledge of Latin. This course is not
intended for students who have already studied Latin to A level or equivalent.
2016/7 - HIS-5006B LATER MEDIEVAL EUROPE
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 18 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser:
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:E4
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module examines the political, cultural and social history of later medieval Europe (circa
1100-1400). It has a particular focus on the Empire and Italy, but we will also look at France
and Constantinople. We will encounter some of the chief characters of the period, such as
Emperors Frederick Barbarossa and Frederick II, 'the Wonder of the World', and Pope
Innocent III. Students will be introduced to some of the most important events and concepts
to shake medieval Europe, such as the intellectual Renaissance of the twelfth century, the
Crusades, the rise of Heresy and the Inquisition, the Empire's long struggle in Italy, and the
Papal Schism.
2016/7 - HIS-5007B From Hastings to the Hundred Years’ War: Norman and
Plantagenet England, 1066-1337
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 20 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Professor Stephen Church
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:A4
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
: This module examines a critical period in English History. It begins with the Conquest of
England by the Normans and looks at the ways in which as a consequence England was
drawn into European affairs. Its mid point is the loss of those continental lands in 1204 and
the Magna Carta crisis of 1215. The unit then explores the domination of Britain by the
English kingdom and ends with the start of England’s next great European adventure, The
Hundred Years' War.
2016/7 - HIS-5009B FROM AGINCOURT TO BOSWORTH: ENGLAND IN THE
WARS OF THE ROSES
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 30 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Hugh Doherty
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:D4*A9,D6/D7/D8
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
Through a close examination of the lives and reigns of four very different monarchs this unit
investigates the workings of kingship and high politics in one of the most turbulent periods of
English History (1415-1485). New interpretations of the Wars of the Roses, as well as
original source material, will be studied.
2016/7 - HIS-5013B THE BRITISH EMPIRE, 1857-1956
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 24 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Camilla Schofield
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:B4*D8,D2/A3
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module surveys the history of the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century to the
Suez Crisis, seeking to explain the Empire's growth and the early stages of its contraction. It
examines the nature and impact of British colonial rule, at the political, economic and
social/cultural levels, addressing the development of the 'settler' colonies/Dominions, the
special significance of India and the implications of the 'New Imperialism'. Problems to be
considered include theories of 'development' and 'collaboration', the growth of resistance and
nationalism, and Britain's responses to these, and the impacts of the two World Wars and the
Cold War on Britain's Imperial system.
2016/7 - HIS-5017B NAPOLEON TO STALIN: THE STRUGGLE FOR MASTERY IN
EUROPE
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 48 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Professor T.G. Otte
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:C5*D5,C6/C7/C8
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module deals with the rivalries of the Great Powers from the end of the Napoleonic
Wars to the onset of the Cold War. We shall be examining topics such as the Vienna system;
the Crimean War; Italian and German unification, the origins of the First and Second World
Wars and the start of the Cold War.
2016/7 - HIS-5024B THE COLD WAR: A NEW HISTORY
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 56 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Richard Mills
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:C4*E4,B5/B6/B7
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module analyses the emergence, development and end of the Cold War. In doing so it
explores the historical circumstances behind the conflict, relations between the United States
of America, the Soviet Union, and other states, as well as the impact of nuclear weapons. The
Cold War has been revisited by historians from various angles, and in a variety of ways, in
recent years and this module is structured to enable engagement with these new histories. In
this way, it takes account of developments that have traditionally been viewed as central to
the history of the post-war era, while also drawing upon the expertise within the School of
History to explore lesser known case studies and alternative spheres where the conflict was
played out. This will include coverage of a range of states in Europe (Hungary, France,
Spain) and beyond (Cuba, Grenada, Vietnam), as well as paying attention to broader themes
such as the role of propaganda, sport and youth. At the same time it will consider overarching
bodies in the form of the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the emerging
European project. The module concludes by asking why the Cold War ended so abruptly,
what role civil resistance played in this, and why the process was peaceful in some cases and
violent in others. Here, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia will be the focus of attention.
2016/7 - HIS-5027B Conspiracy and Crisis in the Early Modern World
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 20 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Professor Geoffrey Plank
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:C7A2D3
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
Assassination. Foreign invasion. Revolt and rebellion. Political and religious plots loomed
large and posed a constant threat in Early Modern England. Conspiracy was not simply an
imagined threat nor did it exist in theory; it was a social and political reality that elicited fear,
shaped policies and gave rise to self-fulfilling prophecies. Did the greatest threat of
subversion come from popular uprisings, foreign invasion or from the heart of the British
government? From Mary, Queen of Scots and the Gunpowder Plot to the hidden agenda of
Charles I, this module will survey a series of popular, elite and royalist conspiracies. Moving
behind official narratives, it will draw on a host of resources to investigate alternative
explanations for crisis over power, authority and legitimacy during this period. Each
conspiracy will provide and point of entry into broader changes in early modern society as
the crown and commons reimagined and realigned political, religious and social boundaries.
2016/7 - HIS-5028B THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Joel Halcomb
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:C1,C3*D4/D6*D7/E2*E3
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module looks at the causes, course and significance at what, in terms of relative
population loss was probably the single most devastating conflict in English history; the civil
wars of 1642-6, 1648 and 1651. In those years, families, villages and towns were divided by
political allegiances and military mobilisation. Hundreds of thousands died, not just from
warfare, but also from the spread of infectious disease, siege and the disruption of food
supplies. In the rest of the British Isles, suffering was even more profound. The execution of
the King in 1649, intended to bring an end to the wars, divided the country ever more deeply.
By the late 1640s, radical social groups had emerged who questioned the very basis of
authority in Early Modern Society, and made arguments for democracy and for the
redistribution of land and power. Karl Marx thought that English revolution marked the
beginnings of capitalism. Was he right? Focussing on ordinary men and women as well as
upon important generals, politicians and monarchs, this module examines the following
issues: the causes of the civil war; the reign of Charles I; the start of the warfare in Ireland
and Scotland; the outbreak of the English Civil war; the course of the war; popular
allegiances – why did ordinary people fight?; the Levellers, Diggers and Ranters; the crisis of
1647-9; the trial and execution of Charles I; gender, women and revolution; the experience of
warfare; print and popular political gossip; the failure of the English Republic and the
Restoration of Charles II. Particular use will be made of the primary source extracts and web
resources.
2016/7 - HIS-5048B THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 44 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Johan Franzen
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:B3
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module provides a historical background to the Middle East and its politics. It is
concerned with politics within the region as well as relations between Middle Eastern
countries and Western powers. The module encourages students to think critically about the
links between some key concepts in the comparative politics of non-Western countries,
including historical processes of state formation, the legacy of colonialism/neo-colonialism,
the role of culture and identity and the significance of natural resources and economic factors.
2016/7 - HIS-5050B PROPAGANDA
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 45 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Mark Thompson
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:B2*B3*E4
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module introduces students to the history and theory of propaganda, and its role in
society. We consider what constitutes and defines propaganda. Focusing on the 20th century,
we examine propaganda in a range of political settings, both totalitarian and democratic, in
the local context of the relationships of power and communications. We consider how
theories of propaganda emerged after the First World War, and how propaganda is shaped by
governance structures, journalists and media institutions, and by technology. We look at
extreme propaganda in Bosnia and Rwanda, and at legal recourses against incitement. And
we examine current techniques, including internet platforms, used by Russia and Islamic
extremists.
2016/7 - HIS-5057B TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN, 1914 TO THE PRESENT
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 30 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Benjamin Jones
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:D7,D2,E2/E3
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
This module examines the themes of conflict and consensus in Britain from the Great War to
the present day, both through the study of political life and also by assessing the impact of
economic, social and cultural change. There are opportunities to re-evaluate issues such as
the impact of war on society, “landmark” General Elections such as those of 1945 and 1979,
the nature and durability of consensus politics in the 1950s, or Britain’s role in the
contemporary world.
2016/7 - HIS-5060B HISTORY OF MODERN ITALY
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 15 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Matthew D'Auria
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Timetable Slot:C1
Exam Paper(hrs): 2
Since the unification of the states of the Italian peninsula, the history of modern Italy has
been the subject of intense historical debate. Modern Italy has often been cast as a ‘weak’
state and ‘fragile’ nation, riven by particularism and by competing secular and religious
ideologies, ‘economically backward’, less successful than its national neighbours, and ‘the
least of the Great Powers’. More recent historiography has sought to challenge or modify
these perceptions in a number of ways, and this course examines modern Italian history from
unification to present day, in the light of these ongoing historiographical debates. a) Italian
nationalism, the process of Italian unification and the attempts to create national unity after
1870; b) the relationship between socio-economic change and political development in
Liberal Italy; c) the impact of the First World War on Italian society and politics; e) the
nature of the Fascist regime and its impact on Italian society; f) the radicalisation of the
regime, its racial policies and the quest for Empire; g) Italy’s role in World War II, the
reasons for the collapse of the Fascist regime, and the emergence of civil war. h) Italian
history since 1945
2016/7 - HIS-5063B WOMEN, POWER AND POLITICS II, THE DUCHESS OF
DEVONSHIRE TO NANCY ASTOR
Spring Semester, Level 5 module
(Maximum 50 Students)
UCU: 20
Organiser: Dr Jennifer Davey
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Examination with Coursework or Project
Exam Paper(hrs):
This module explores female involvement in politics, from the Duchess of Devonshire’s
infamous activities in the 1784 Westminster election until 1919, when Nancy Astor became
the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. It will examine topics including
the early feminists, aristocratic female politicians, radical politics and the suffragettes. It will
investigate the changes and continuities with female engagement with the political process
from the eighteenth century through to the twentieth century.
2016/7 - HIS-6004B RUSSIA IN REVOLUTION 1905-1921
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr Francis King
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Timetable Slot:C1*C2*C3
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This module will look at the upheavals in the Russian Empire between 1900 and 1921. It
looks at the ‘revolution’ of 1905, the limited ‘constituionalism’ from 1906, the First World
War and the downfall of the Romanov monarchy. We will then study the year 1917 in some
detail and discuss how and why the Bolsheviks were able to take power. The specific
experience of certain non-Russian parts of the empire will be examined, as will the Civil War
and the reasons for the Communist victory. The module will place the Russian Revolutions in
their historical, political and geographical context and will consider the impact that these
events had in the history of the twentieth century. A case study will be used for an exercise in
developing historical writing skills, using peer assessment and classroom analysis of essaywriting techniques
2016/7 - HIS-6006B TWENTIETH-CENTURY SPORT HISTORY
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr Richard Mills
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This module explores key themes and topics in the history of twentieth century sport, from
the founding of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 to the impact which the
collapse of socialism had upon sport at the end of the century. Sport’s interaction with
empire, nationalism, fascism, socialism and capitalism will be considered, demonstrating that
the political history and international relations of the century are deeply entwined with sport.
A range of examples are examined, from Mussolini’s Italy to the superpower competition of
the Cold War. As an aspect of social history, issues of gender, race and disability are
inseparable from this topic, as are the harnessing and exploitation of sport as a means of war
or reconciliation at various periods throughout the century.
2016/7 - HIS-6018B TUDOR REBELLIONS
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr Joel Halcomb
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Timetable Slot:D2A3B4
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This module looks at the nature of rebellions, riot and popular politics in Tudor England. The
early part of the module proceeds in a chronological format; and after that, we analyse
rebellion in more thematic terms, individual sessions look at: late medieval rebellion; early
Tudor rebellion; The Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536; the 1549 rebellions Kett’s rebellion,
popular rebellion in the 1580s and 1590os; gender and ritual; seditious speech; popular
culture; Shakespeare, drama and popular protest; food and enclosure rioting. A lot of use is
made of extracts of primary material . After we have studied Kett’s Rebellion of 1549, there
will be a fieldtrip to examine key sites in Norwich associated with those events. This may
possibly end in one of the oldest pubs in Britain; the Adam and Eve.
2016/7 - HIS-6051B THE FIRST WORLD WAR: A NEW HISTORY
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr Matthew D'Auria
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Timetable Slot:D2A3B4
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This reading-intensive module explores the impact of the First World War on European and
non-European states, societies, and cultures. It aims to broaden and deepen the students’
knowledge by introducing some of the lesser known aspects of the conflict, such as the
campaigns on the Eastern front, in Africa, or the Middle East. Students will investigate the
role and perception of colonial troops in the European theatre of war and examine the war
efforts of such countries as Italy, Serbia, the Ottoman Empire, and Australia. Further topics to
be discussed include alliance politics and the role of neutral states, psychological effects of
‘industrialised slaughter’, atrocities against non-combatant civilians, captivity and
occupation, state propaganda and the spiritual mobilisation of intellectuals, as well as
processes of social change with regard to home and family life, ethnicity and class. The
module will draw on a wide range of primary sources, including poems, paintings, and film.
In their coursework, students will have the opportunity to study more specific issues, such as
naval and aerial warfare, British military strategy, civil-military relations in democratic and
autocratic states, medical innovations, the war experiences of children, or questions of
memory and commemoration.
2016/7 - HIS-6052B DEATH IN THE MIDDLE AGES
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr Tom Licence
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Timetable Slot:"C1,C2,C3"
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
In medieval England, death and what lay beyond it were constantly visible out of the corner
of the eye. Large portions of the landscape were given over to the dead: there were barrows,
haunted by the ancient pagan dead; cemeteries for the Christian dead; and lonely hermitages,
whose occupants spoke with the dead. ‘King Death’, shown as a skeleton with spear or bow,
would strike down the living at any age. And if prayers were not said for them, their ghosts
would wander forth from the grave to terrify their neighbours. Vivid images of what
happened to the dead were painted and carved over the archways of churches, haunting the
living every Sunday and dancing before their mind’s eye in their dreams. Visions of the dead
were not uncommon, and sometimes they made such demands on the living that the latter
spent their lives serving them. This module examines beliefs about death and the otherworld
in medieval England; how medieval people prepared for death; how ghosts and the ‘undead’
irrupted into their world; the role of those who served the dead or acted as mediators between
the dead and the living; demons, the evil dead and saints (the holy dead); and how death was
represented in medieval art. There will be a trip to see tombs and wall paintings.
2016/7 - HIS-6074B INTELLECTUALS AND US FOREIGN POLICY, 1880-2012
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr David Milne
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Timetable Slot:D1*D2*A3
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This module examines the ideas and influence of nine American foreign policy
“intellectuals,” beginning with Alfred Mahan and concluding with Paul Wolfowitz. Why did
each “intellectual” strike a particular chord at a particular time? Do individuals matter in the
history of US foreign policy? How, and with what consequences, were these ideas translated
into policy? This module will explore the origins of key US foreign policy concepts such as
isolationism, internationalism, containment and “pre-emptive defence.” Aims of the Module •
To introduce students to nine particular strains of US foreign policy ideology. • To encourage
students to engage critically with the primary output of these “intellectuals” and to identify
their strengths and weaknesses. • To stimulate students to consider whether these ideas have
been manifested in policy, and to trace their impact. • To encourage students to develop their
own foreign policy philosophy.
2016/7 - HIS-6077B CONTESTING THE PAST: REPRESENTATION AND
MEMORY
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Mr Christopher Jones
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Timetable Slot:C7C8A9
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
Historical representation and memory is constantly constructed and reconstructed. This
module examines the role of documentaries and feature films in this process, exploring the
close interplay and tensions between history, memory, the past and present. Feature films, in
particular, have a powerful capacity to reconstruct historical narratives and understanding.
Their visual vividness provides a magical simulation of the past. Indeed, in the case of
medieval and early modern history, they provide a prime media through which popular
understanding of these historical times is conveyed and shaped. Moreover, documentaries
and feature films alike often contaminate collective memories of contemporaries and
eyewitnesses of specific events, creating further challenges to historians in their pursuit to
reconstruct the past. Students will examine what role films play in the process of national
memory-work in popular culture and commemoration of historical events as well as how film
as a medium can help but also hinder conveying historical understanding. They will also be
able to discuss the work of documentary film makers and the practical challenges and
responsibilities that come with it: interviewing eyewitnesses and the perils of oral history,
organising and constructing a historical narrative, tensions between documentary as an art
form and as a medium to transmit knowledge.
2016/7 - HIS-6079B Early Modern Things: The Stuff of Life
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr Emily Cockayne
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This module focuses on the lives of citizens at work, rest, worship and play during a time of
increasing commercialisation, industrial production and urbanisation. Using the paraphernalia
of living as a springboard permits the utilisation of micro-historical or ethnographic
approaches. Students will be encouraged to think about the choices that ‘ordinary’ people
had, considering not just what they did, but why they did it. The rhythms of their lives were
mediated by time and their comfort depended on how much money or status they had. This
deepens our understanding of the nature and extent of social, economic and cultural change.
This does not abandon the traditional ‘big’ considerations of ‘high politics’, rather it traces
the impacts of developments amongst the citizenry by considering their use of space;
varieties of social mobility; different levels of accountability; the forging of reputations and
identities; the effects of industrial pollution; forms of domestic organisation, and rates of
consumption. This module will appeal to students who like to sleuth, who notice clues about
the past. It should also appeal to students who are interested in working with material culture,
in museums or archives. Items that were once familiar, but now do not feature in our lives
help us to understand different times. Trade tokens and lead seals on packages of wool allow
a different way into discussions of economic projects, the circulation of currency and work in
trades. Other objects are more familiar, and make us question how modern we really are now;
sex toys were widely available in eighteenth century London
2016/7 - HIS-6082B From Victory to Defeat: Defending Britain’s Empire, 1919-1942
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Dr Jayne Gifford
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
The end of the First World War witnessed both the expansion of the British Empire to its
largest extent, covering a quarter of the globe, and the destruction of its colonial rivals.
However, the First World War also unleashed nationalist forces that would challenge the
British imperial system. This resulted in outbreaks of riots and resistance against British rule
in Ireland, India, Mesopotamia and Egypt. Weakened economically and socially by the
gargantuan effort of winning the war how would Britain maintain her far-flung lines of
empire? This module will examine how Britain attempted to secure her strategic interests
both within an era of growing nationalist resistance from within the Empire and against
external threats from a resurgent Japan, Germany and Italy. It will introduce students to the
high-tide of war imperialism; inter-war imperial defence; the crisis of empire Britain faced in
Ireland, India and the Middle East; the ‘family-network’ of the ‘white’ Dominions; colonial
development in Africa and the Caribbean as well as what it meant to fight the Second World
War on an imperial footing during the campaigns in the Mediterranean and North Africa,
finishing with the strategic abyss that was the fall of Singapore in February 1942. By
examining the pressures policy-makers faced from within the Empire and from outside we
will seek to gain a deeper understanding of how the British Empire functioned during this
pivotal period of the imperial project.
2016/7 - HIS-6083B Global Lives: Britons Abroad from Captain Cook to Amy Johnson
Spring Semester, Level 6 module
(Maximum 16 Students)
UCU: 30
Organiser: Professor Anthony Howe
NAM- MODULE - 40% PASS ON AGGREGATE
Module Type: Coursework
Exam Paper(hrs): 0
This module will take as its starting-point the travelogues, diaries, and letters of Britons who
travelled extensively abroad from the voyages of Antipodean discovery in the late eighteenthcentury to the interwar period. These encounters will serve to open up important themes in
global history (for example, scientific discovery, missionary activity, and the spread of
international business) through individual experience. Individual lives will reflect both
Britain’s imperial reach but also Britain’s wider global impact. They will also reveal how
Britons understood ‘foreign’ societies and how they sought to influence them. Lives to be
examined will include but not be confined to Captain Cook, Charles Darwin, Richard
Cobden, David Livingstone, Charles Dilke, Mary Kingsley, Gertrude Bell, Vita SackvilleWest, Sidney and Beatrice Webb, and Amy Johnson. There will also be scope for the study of
less well-known figures through project work.