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Britain in the Wider World 1603-1815 (HIST20077)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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This seminar-based subject, which includes a substantial addition of on-line leaning material, examines the social, political, economic and cultural history of Britain (including Ireland and the British Empire) from the death of Elizabeth I in 1603 and the subsequent union of England, Wales and Scotland through to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. It covers major events in British history such as the War of Three Kingdoms (the Civil War) in the 1640s, the Glorious Revolution in 1688, the Second Hundred Years’ War between France and Britain (including the Seven Years’ War and the Napoleonic Wars), the Industrial Revolution and the Battle of Waterloo. It also covers major events in the history of the first British Empire, from the founding of Jamestown in Virginia in 1607, the migration of Puritans to New England, conflict with Native Americans, the introduction of African slavery, the American Revolution and the creation of the United States and the European settlement of Australia. By the end of the subject, students will gain an appreciation of how a conflict-ridden group of small nations on the edge of Europe could develop over 200 years into a well-defined nation state that was the economic powerhouse of the world and the head of the largest empire that the world had ever known.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- display a critical understanding of a variety of conceptual approaches to interpreting the past;
- demonstrate a high level of clarity and fluency in communication and collaboration, including oral and written presentation of evidence-based narratives and effective work in small groups;
- understand how historians relate to their own environment, including how they seek to shape it;
- reflect critically on the knowledge and skills developed in the study of history, and on how these might be applied to scholarship, employment and citizenship;
- locate and assess national and international debates in historical studies;
- develop an understanding of the principal features of British social, political and imperial history in the early modern period
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject shouldbe able to:
- demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;
- show critical thinking, analytical skills, and an ability to construct an argument in tutorial discussion and essay writing;
- demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through thecontextualisation of judgments;
- show a critical self-awareness and openness to new ideas and possibilities in written and oral work.
Last updated: 2 November 2024