HIST3006 Imperialism and its Discontents: Empires Ancient and Modern

2020

4.5

1 x 2-hour seminar weekly

HIST2061 has been successfully completed

This topic assumes a familiarity with the kind of knowledge, conceptual understanding and skills that would be acquired by the completion of at least 9 units of second level topics from the History major sequence.

Associated major: History

Why have some states attempted to impose themselves politically, militarily and economically on others? When does hegemony turn into imperialism? How have those subjected to imperialist pressures reacted? Through an investigation of a number of empires in a variety of settings, this topic will demonstrate how imperialism has been experienced throughout history. It will employ a truly global approach, in an effort to demonstrate that, while European states have historically embraced empires as a means of ordering populations, other civilisations have also developed forms of imperialism.

As part of this investigation, students will scrutinise both primary and secondary sources, as well as conduct their own research into imperialism and reactions to it. They will also be exposed to differing historiographical methodologies.

Students successfully completing this Topic should be able to:

• critically reflect upon the nature of imperialism and how it has been represented and received
• appreciate the complexities, characteristics and legacies of imperialism
• develop their communication skills through discussion and reasoned argument
• locate, collect, interpret and synthesise a range of historical sources to develop a coherent argument
• plan, research and write an academic essay