Programme Structure:
Level 4 (Year 1)
Europe and the Wider World: Turning Points in History, 1000-2000
This module provides an overview of the principal developments in European history, c.1000-2000, with the analytical focus upon whether they might be considered as historical turning points within the broader chronological and geographical framework.
This overview and analysis will be driven forward by a detailed examination of a selection of the following themes and issues: medieval papal power; monasticism; kingship in medieval Europe; the Black Death and medieval society; chivalry and late medieval warfare; the Renaissance and European society and culture; the Reformation and European politics, society and culture; early modern population growth and urbanisation; the 'General Crisis' of the seventeenth century; the 'Military Revolution' and warfare in early modern Europe; the constitutional and political history of seventeenth-century Europe; the Enlightenment; wars, revolutions and national unification during the nineteenth-century; nineteenth-century scientific and industrial history; colonialism and de-colonialisation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; and war, society and the balance of power in twentieth century Europe.
A Collision of Cultures: North America, 1492-2000
This module will examine the development of the United States from the discovery by Europeans in 1492 to its role as a global superpower in the 21st century. Although a chronological approach will be taken, key issues and themes will be emphasised throughout, including issues of race, gender and American Exceptionalism. The historical periods studied will include: Discovery and Settlement, The American Revolution, Forging a New Republic, National Growth and Sectional Crisis, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Progressive America becomes a global power, the Great Depression, the Cold War, the impact of the Vietnam Syndrome, the Reagan Revolution and its legacy, and the impact of September 11.
The Making of Modern Ireland, 1603-1923
This module considers the development of modern Ireland from the critical starting point of the early seventeenth-century plantations to the partition of the island into two polities and the civil war which followed in the Irish Free State. Students consider the theory and practice of plantation, native opposition and rebellion, Cromwellian conquest and plantation, the 'war of the two kings', the development of Protestant 'ascendancy' and penal legislation, eighteenth-century Protestant 'patriotism', the United Irishmen, the union of Ireland with Britain, the development of confessional nationalism, unionism, the 'war of independence' and the civil war. In addition to these political themes, the module covers the economic and social development of Ireland, paying attention to economic relations with Britain, rural social relations, famines, the development of cities, and the cultural life of Ireland.
'I Came, I Saw, I Conquered': Understanding Empire in World History, 300-2000
This module encompasses a broad survey of the history of empire through the medieval, early modern and modern periods through select themes: the formation of empires, imperial governance, images of empire and imperial hierarchies, imperial superpowers and the cult of empire, the failure of empire and after empire. The module introduces the various intellectual, practical and historical articulations of empire and explores the ways in which empires were established, organised, governed and collapsed. As historical examples to illustrate the themes, the module considers the history of the empires held by Rome, the Arabs, Spain, Britain, the United Provinces and America, and individual emperors such as Constantine, Justinian, the two Fredericks and Charles V.
Constructing Histories
This module takes as its starting point the question: what is history? In exploring this complex question, it examines the development of the historical discipline from its earliest origins through to the present day. The historical discipline continues to evolve as each generation of historians applies its own values and ideas to the subject. As well as exploring the nature of these changes, the module also engages directly in philosophical debates about the direction, substance and future for studying the past, including the relevance and significance of a variety of public histories, ranging from film and television through to museums and heritage sites.
Red Menace?: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Europe
This module offers a detailed overview of the development, triumph and fall of Communism in Europe from the 19th century until the end of the 20th century. Within a chronological framework examinations are made of the growth of the various strands of socialism within European states during the 19th century, the triumph of revolutionary socialism in Russia and its expansion, and the decline and fall of the revolutionary socialist system. After assessing the ideologies of socialism and communism, a more detailed exploration is made of the victory of communism in Russia. This is followed by an examination of the Stalinist regime in the Soviet Union and the rise and fall of the Pax Sovietica in Central/East Europe from 1944-91. Students have the opportunity to focus on topics of particular interest to them.
The Shaping of Britain
This module examines key themes in the physical development of Britain over the historic period, exploring them from an historical perspective and assessing the strengths and limitations of the surviving historical sources. A wide variety of such themes is available and within a 24-week module only a selection of themes can be addressed. Themes and issues which might be considered include: the changing population levels and demographic trends and how those have impacted upon the physical development of Britain; the power of the state, and especially of central government and the crown, and how that has shaped the landscape; defending the land and the role of military structures; faith, religion and the development of religious buildings and landscapes; the growth and role of towns and the urban sector within Britain; and the role and impact of major landowners, their seats and estates. Throughout, attention is paid to the surviving historical source material, to its merits and demerits and to its employment by historians in areas of on-going debate, such as reconstructing pre-census population levels, the fortunes of towns in the late-medieval period and the speed, depth and consequences of the Reformation upon religious buildings and property.
Living and Dying in the Middle Ages: Patterns of Belief
This module provides a broad coverage of medieval beliefs and practices in the period 1000 to 1500, studied thematically within their appropriate context. The aim of the module is to complement traditional political history by investigating the common culture of the population of Western Europe in the middle ages. Particular attention is paid to the expression of belief, but this is investigated from a number of alternative viewpoints. As far as possible, the elite constructions of the official Church are contrasted with the practices of the broad mass of the population. Topics covered include: the year and conceptions of time; pilgrimage and the cult of saints; religious art and artefacts; illuminated manuscripts to printed books; medicine and disease; Death, Purgatory and Hell; ideas and ideals of love and honour; urbanisation and dislocation; dissent.
Making and Remaking the German Nation, 1789-2000
This module traces the development of the German lands from the Enlightenment to the turn of the 21st century. During this period, the geographical boundaries of the nation, as well as the German national idea shifted dramatically. For this reason, the module explores not only the development of Germany, but also examines the changing map of Central Europe more generally. Through the prism of nationalism, the module surveys a number of broad themes. It begins with an exploration of liberal nationalism in pre-state Germany, before moving on to consider the failed 1848 revolutions and the formation of the German Empire. The module then analyses the gradual entwinement of nationalism with conservative and racist politics in the years leading up to the First World War. By exploring the rise of the radical right and the growth of racial definitions of the nation during the 1920s, the module investigates how the fascist movement moved from the margins to the centre during the Third Reich. For the period after 1945, the idea of the nation in the three main successor states - West Germany, East Germany and Austria - will be examined. Finally, the module debates definitions of the German nation after reunification.
Level 5 (Year 2)
Debates in History
This module addresses significant historical themes and requires students to explore a selected topic in depth. Themes offered will vary from year to year, but will normally embrace aspects of political, social, economic and cultural history and explore themes in which there is substantial current historical research, disagreement and debate amongst historians. Examples include: women in history; witchcraft and the witch-hunt in early modern Europe; warfare and the early modern state; riots, rebels and popular protest; Anglo-Irish questions; British society in an age of war, revolution and economic dislocation.
Europe in the Age of Revolutions, 1789-1861
This module examines the history of Europe from the outbreak of the French revolution in 1789 to the unification of Italy, exploring the development of modern political, social and associational forms. It examines the content and impact of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment', the ancien régime, the origins of the French Revolution, the Terror, the career of Napoleon, the conservative retrenchment of 1815-1830, the impact of Romanticism, the growth of liberalism and nationalism, the revolutions of 1830 and 1848, agrarian change, the impact of industrialization and urban growth, and the unification of Italy.
Europe in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightened Absolutism
This module examines the political history of Europe from the mid-seventeenth century through to the end of the eighteenth century. It assesses the concept and theories of absolutism and then examines the content and impact of the eighteenth-century 'Enlightenment' alongside an examination of the concept and theories of 'Enlightened Absolutism'. The examination of both theories and concepts of early modern government is placed within the context of national and international politics of the period. Accordingly, the module considers how the principal states of Europe were governed, how the methods, practices and objectives of governments changed and what pressures and aspirations - intellectual, political, fiscal, military, religious, social, economic, demographic and popular - may have caused such changes.
Renaissance and Reformation Europe
This module considers changes in European government and society between c.1400 and 1600 and examines the factors that brought about the transformation of Europe in this period. The origins of new ideas associated with the Italian Renaissance are considered and their impact on the politics, culture and society of northern Europe. The module also examines the origins and progress of the Protestant Reformation in Western Europe through the work of key figures such as Luther, Zwingli and Calvin. Consideration is given to the responses of the Papacy and of the Catholic Church in general to the Reformation in different parts of Europe.
Europe in the Age of Nationalism, Imperialism and Cold War, 1870-1965
This module explores various issues and themes relating to the nature and development of Nationalist, Imperialist and Cold War politics in Europe between 1870 and 1965. In particular, the module investigates the rise of German power and the diplomatic consequences of this; the spread of Nationalist sentiment and political structures throughout central and south-eastern Europe; the approach of war; the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian, German, Ottoman and Russian Empires; the impact war had on the social, economic and cultural life of Europe; attempts at post-war reconstruction; the diplomatic and political developments during the inter-war period; the causes and course of the Second World War; and the origins and course of the Cold War until 1965.
Historical Research: Methods and Practice
Firstly, this module introduces students to the skills and methods required to conduct historical research through bibliographical searches, including the use of electronic resources such as the Internet and CD-ROMs. There is a focus on the identification of the location of repositories of primary source material in libraries, record offices and museum collections, including the use of electronic resources as above.
Secondly, the module focuses on a specific research project based on archival material or special library/museum collections. This normally incorporates a four-week placement in a library, record office or museum.
Finally, the module sees students present their research findings, including a critical reflection on the learning experience and future application of transferable skills.
Crusade, Reform and Reaction: Europe in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries
This module provides an overview of Europe in a period of extraordinary developments, both political and intellectual. The eleventh century witnessed the apparent triumph of two cherished ideals, the reform of the Church along the lines pioneered by the monks of Cluny and its partnership with a resurgent Holy Roman Empire. Yet within a few decades the continent was involved in a bitter struggle between competing ideologies. The ferment of ideas and passions had unpredicted results, perhaps the most astonishing of which was the development of the Crusade movement, which appeared from nowhere and dominated the twelfth century with far-reaching consequences. The period also saw the development of the first universities, the product of a particularly fruitful flowering of the intellectual tradition inherited from Antiquity. New ideas also brought challenges, with the appearance for the first time in many centuries of heretical sects which seriously threatened the dominance of the Church. The end of the period saw the loss of the crusader states, won so painfully, and the resurgence of the Papacy under the young and ambitious Pope Innocent III, whose wide-ranging initiatives set the scene for the following century.
This module covers the development of France, Germany and Italy in the period and will appeal to students interested in political history and cultural studies. The themes of reform, idealism, reality and the use of violence run through the module, which provides an excellent preparation for Level 6 (Year 3) modules on the Norman Kings and the Wars of the Roses.
A More Perfect Union": The Constitution and Modern America
In 1789 a group of 55 white men meeting in Philadelphia produced a document that was designed to embody the values of the new nation and produce a system of government that would protect and defend those values. Described by W.E. Gladstone as 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man' the Constitution of the United States has changed little since it was first written and is considered as applicable in the 21st century as it was in the 18th.
Using a thematic approach, this module examines the political history of Modern America from a constitutional perspective. It begins with an analysis of constitutional theory, and a discussion of the various branches of government in the United States. It then moves on to evaluate modern interpretations of the Constitution in relation to a variety of issues with political and social significance in modern (20th and 21st century) America. These include the relative powers of the federal government and the states, regulation of working conditions, race relations, women's issues (including abortion), religion in schools, the death penalty, foreign policy (including the War on Terror), issues of freedom (including freedom of speech and gun control), and the power of the president.
Level 6 (Year 3)
History Dissertation
This module offers students the opportunity to engage in extensive independent study, with tutorial supervision, of an historical episode or topic chosen by the student, subject to tutor approval. Primary sources should be used to a significant extent in addition to a thorough grounding in the secondary literature. The topic may relate to the student's Level 6 (Year 3) module choices, or be taken from another area of History by arrangement with the Dissertation supervisor.
The Crowd in History
This module explores the behaviour of crowds in the medieval and modern periods. It examines what crowds were, and the different forms they have taken during the period under consideration. Students will consider: the crowd in rebellion in the medieval period (the Peasants' Revolt) and the crowd in celebration (carnival) to illuminate the form and content of popular belief; the urban crowd and its characterization as a 'mob' in eighteenth-century England; the crowd in protest and the crowd in consent during the modern period; the crowd in the French Revolution; banditry and agrarian protest in Ireland and in Italy; recreational crowds. Students will consider typologies and theories of crowds.
Historical Sources: The Crowd in History
This module critically analyses a range of primary and secondary sources relevant to the optional module, The Crowd in History, offered at Level 6 (Year 3).
The English Revolution: Causes, Course and Consequences
This module analyses the so-called 'English Revolution' of the mid seventeenth century, focusing on the causes and consequences of the civil wars of the 1640s. Commencing with an assessment of the early Stuart state and with an overview of the political, social, economic, financial, religious and administrative context of the first half of the seventeenth century, the module explores the various explanations of the origins and causes of the civil war which broke out in 1642, both by assessing the reigns of James I (as king of England, 1603-25) and Charles I (from 1625) and by exploring the historiography and historical debate.
The civil wars themselves are analysed and the military, political, administrative and religious developments of the war years are examined to show why no traditional post-war settlement was possible; instead there came regicide, the removal of much of the traditional constitution, radicalism and constitutional experimentation. The successive regimes of the interregnum are explored, focusing on strengths and weaknesses, problems and tensions, with particular reference to the most durable and stable regime of the period, the Protectorate of Oliver and Richard Cromwell.
Having assessed the Restoration and Restoration Settlement, the module closes by assessing the legacy of the period and the appropriateness of the various labels which have been attached to the events of the mid century. The module focuses on England and Wales, but close attention is paid to developments in Scotland and Ireland and their impact upon the Anglo-centric state.
Throughout, close attention is given to both primary and secondary sources, exploring their strengths and weaknesses and examining how historians have employed and interpreted contemporary source material.
Historical Sources: The English Revolution
This module critically analyses a range of primary and secondary sources relevant to the optional module, The English Revolution: Causes, Course and Consequences, offered at Level 6 (Year 3).
Revolution Politics, War and the Jacobites: The Emergence of Britain, 1688-1746
This module analyses the emergence of Britain as a 'great' European power between 1688 and 1746. Commencing with an examination of the British Isles in the late 17th century, the causes and progress of the Revolution of 1688, when William of Orange replaced the reigning monarch James VII & II, are considered. The political and constitutional consequences of this Revolution - in particular the alteration in the relationship between the crown and parliament, the emergence of Whig and Tory parties, and the creation of Britain in 1707 - will be assessed alongside the reigns of William III and Queen Anne.
The political history of the period will be further examined in the context of the challenge posed by the Jacobites - supporters of the previously exiled James VII & II, and his issue - to the Hanoverian succession and the Whig Party's establishment of a dominant governmental regime. The form and character of the Jacobite movement will be considered alongside an assessment of the national and international context, and the causes and progress of the principal Jacobite rebellions in 1715 and 1745.
Equal consideration will be given to the response of the authorities to the Jacobites and the Whig Party's creation of a stable oligarchic government, with particular attention paid to the role of Sir Robert Walpole as Britain's first 'Prime Minister' and the evolution of the function of the monarch in British politics. In addition to this assessment of the political and constitutional history, Britain's involvement in the principal wars of this period will be analysed, with specific reference made to the establishment of the bureaucratic, political, financial and military structures required to sustain this involvement.
Historical Sources: Revolution Politics, War and the Jacobites
This module critically analyses a range of primary and secondary sources relevant to the optional module, Revolution Politics, War and the Jacobites: The Emergence of Britain, 1688-1746, offered at Level 6 (Year 3).
The Wars of the Roses
This module addresses the causes of the Wars of the Roses, long-term and short-term, linked to the final phases of the Hundred Years War.
The module focuses on the position of the king in late medieval government; the relationship between the Crown and the Nobility; the breakdown of effective government under the last Lancastrian king, Henry VI. The module addresses the issues surrounding the course of the wars from 1455 to the deposition of Henry VI in 1461, and through the reigns of the Yorkist kings Edward IV and Richard III to 1485.
Finally, the module looks at the impact of civil war on fifteenth-century society, especially the nobility, gentry and women, and the lifestyle and standards of living in later medieval England.
Historical Sources: The Wars of the Roses
This module critically analyses a range of primary and secondary sources relevant to the optional module, The Wars of the Roses, offered at Level 6 (Year 3).
England under the Norman Kings
This module explores the changing relationship between successive kings of England and their barons, focusing especially upon the contrasting experiences of William II, Henry I and Stephen. There is a detailed examination of the patronage policies of these kings and of the reasons for rebellion against them.
Particular attention will be given to the causes and consequences of the civil war between 1139 and 1153. This leads to an analysis of the nature and extent of authority and the processes by which Norman power and influence were extended to Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Other topics covered in the module include the spread of monasticism, the changing relationship between crown and papacy, and developments in rural society.
Historical Sources: England under the Norman Kings
This module critically analyses a range of primary and secondary sources relevant to the optional module, England under the Norman Kings, offered at Level 6 (Year 3).
Cold War America
In the years from 1945 to 1991 the US underwent a massive transformation. The 46 years of the Cold War saw the United States assume a role of world leadership, and saw that leadership undermined by both internal and external factors. They saw the US challenged to live up to its promise of equality and liberty for all citizens.
This module examines the development of the United States from the end of World War II in 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Key themes that will be discussed include McCarthyism, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the relative decline of the 1970s, and the Reagan years.
Historical Sources: Cold War America
This module critically analyses a range of primary and secondary sources relevant to the optional module, Cold War America, offered at Level 6 (Year 3).
The Culture of Defeat: Weimar Germany and the Legacies of the First World War
This module explores the gradual rise and dramatic fall of Weimar Germany from 1914 to 1933. The short-lived Weimar Republic is often regarded as a calamitous failure. After all, Hitler's Nazi regime emerged from the Weimar system in 1933. Yet this common interpretation of the Republic overlooks the difficult wartime legacies that dogged it from the start. The module considers the economic, political and social impact of Germany's defeat in the First World War. It also pays particular attention to the cultural innovation of this period, much of which can also be seen as a legacy of the war.
The first part of the module examines the First World War and German society, the initial impact of defeat and the German Revolution of 1918. The second part considers the consequences of the Versailles Treaty, the demobilisation of troops, inflation and the growth in anti-Semitism. focusing mainly on Weimar culture, the third part of the module analyses art, architecture, film, mass culture, and fears of moral decline in the mid 1920s. The fourth and final part of the module concentrates on the collapse of the Republic from the late 1920s onwards.
Important themes include the worldwide depression, the persistence of the war in popular memory and the rise of the Nazis.
Historical Sources: The Culture of Defeat: Weimar Germany
This module critically analyses a range of primary and secondary sources relevant to the optional module, The Culture of Defeat: Weimar Germany and the Legacies of the First World War, offered at Level 6 (Year 3).
