Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

In this course students will engage critically with primary sources and historiography in order to develop their understanding of the development of ideas of race and practices of slavery in 18th century Britain and its American and Caribbean colonies. The course will include primary and secondary materials relevant to the beliefs and practices of white slaveholders, as well as the ways in which the enslaved experienced and related to their enslavement.

10x1hr lectures; 10x1hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the honours options in History and may not run every year. The options which are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into History, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

None

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Examination (2-hour duration) - 60%

■ Essay (2,000 words) - 30%

■ Seminar presentation of 6 minutes accompanied by a one-page A4 handout - 5%

■ Seminar contribution - 5%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There are no alternatives to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment.

■ There are no alternatives to the essays, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ A recorded presentation, or a written script of equivalent length, or a PowerPoint with substantial notes, or a one-to-one presentation as alternative to oral seminar presentations.

■ Written responses to seminar material in advance or after seminar or they can write a self-evaluation reflecting on seminar contribution as alternative to seminar contribution.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ Develop detailed knowledge and understanding of ideas about race and slavery in the 18th century British Atlantic World

■ Increase a methodological understanding of how to deal with sources related to race and slavery

■ Develop critical understanding of the beliefs and experiences of enslavers and enslaved alike

■ Enhance understanding of how historians frame historical enquiry, present and support interpretation of past events and experiences, and advance historiographical debate

■ Consolidate research skills and develop reflective understanding of their value in research and writing

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify key aspects of the development of British ideas of race and racism, and their relationship to racial slavery

■ Assess how those who held slaves explained and justified their behaviour, and their treatment of the enslaved

■ Assess the ways in which slavery was experienced by the enslaved, and how they reacted to their situation

■ Critically summarise and contextualise - through written work, oral presentations and debate - a range of historiographical argument, and use them to answer research questions

■ Critically engage - through written work, oral presentations and debate - with debates about the legacy of racial slavery in modern British society and the former British colonies