Ages of Empire

Why Choose This Elective?

Empires have powerfully shaped the modern world, politically and economically, socially and environmentally, driving change from mass population movements to the spread of global languages or ecological transformations driven by capitalist energies. This Elective module rises to the challenge posed by the sheer diversity and range of impacts produced by empires from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries, and across the globe, by exploring a wide range of ‘imperial moments’. Some of these will be a historical event such as a battle or a treaty, but others could be a text (a personal memoir, a speech, a manifesto), an image (a poster, painting, map or photograph), an artefact (like an item of clothing) or a site. They allow the opportunity to range across space and time, exploring empire as understood or advanced by imperial powers or as received, endured or engaged with by colonized peoples. The module should appeal to you if you are interested in powerful forces which shaped the modern world, but also in the lived experiences of people encountering ‘empire’. It will give you lots of scope to explore topics, times and places of particular interest to you, whether individually or in groups.

What Will You Learn?

The module will use the study of ‘imperial moments’ to open out broader questions about the nature, meaning and impact of empires from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries. These could include how a seemingly insatiable European demand for beaver pelts for the manufacture of waterproof headgear sparked an ever-expanding fur trade in North America in the eighteenth century drove a colonial frontier deeper into the continent, shaped relationships between Europeans, especially the French, and First Nations peoples, radically altered indigenous societies and cultures and effected profound change in regional ecological balance. Or how the Russian Empress Catherine II embarked on a six-month tour to inspect following the annexation of Crimea, a trip perhaps best remembered for ‘Potemkin villages’, fake settlements allegedly presented along the route to impress Catherine and an episode revealing of Russia’s ideology of empire and indeed about the ideals and realities of expanding empires. Topics will include political, cultural, social and intellectual developments, spread geographically from Asia to the Americas, Europe to Africa and Oceania.

Key Takeaways:

• New Subject Area: Engage with current research on the history of empires and develop your understanding of past imperial systems through studying key 'imperial moments' and their implications.
• Critical Skills: Learn to assess historical events through a variety of sources, techniques, and perspectives, building analytical, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
• Global Perspective: Gain an understanding of the global impacts of empires and consider issues and concerns important for understanding the contemporary world.

What Will You Do?

• Lectures & Tutorials: Attend weekly lectures covering a diverse range of imperial moments, and participate in tutorials where you’ll discuss key themes and develop your assignments.
• Group Project: Work with fellow students to research and present a short presentation on an independently-researched imperial moment.
• Independent Study: Read key texts about empire, both what historians call 'primary sources' (produced by historical figures themselves) and modern scholarly literature (books, essays and articles).
• Assignments: Produce a response paper analyzing a key imperial text or artifact, and write an essay on a specific "imperial moment" of your choice.

How will this be delivered?

• Lectures: 11 x 1-hour sessions that cover different “imperial moments.”
• Tutorials: 4 classes that foster deeper discussion and help with essay planning.
• Group Work: Collaboration on a presentation about a chosen imperial moment.
• Independent Study: Around 30 hours for reading and preparing for lectures and assignments.
• Assessment Prep: Approximately 38 hours dedicated to preparing your written assignments and presentations.

How will this be assessed?

• Essay (70%): A 2500-word independent research project analyzing a specific "imperial moment".
• Group Project (30%): A short presentation on a selected "imperial moment," created in collaboration with your peers.
• Formative Assessments: These preparatory tasks help you refine your historical methods and build essential skills for the main assignments.

Who Can Take This Elective?

This module is open to any student eligible to take a Trinity Elective—except for those studying Single Honours History, Joint Honours History, or a New Minor Subject in History.

If you’re intrigued by the powerful stories of empires, this Trinity Elective is for you.

* Please note that assessment methods, assessment weightings and amount of contact hours are subject to change by the module coordinator. You can confirm all assessment details and expected contact hours with the module coordinator upon starting the elective.