This course will explore key features of 'modern' European societies and the nature of modernity. Students will explore ways historians make sense of change over time by looking more closely at various aspects of everyday life, including consumption, social identity, labour, power, gender, race, protest, violence, religion and ideology, the body, nationalism, empire, crime and social control.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11am - 12noon [lectures] and seminars held as scheduled in the course handout

HIST2011

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Exam (90 minutes) - 60%

■ Essay (1,500 words) - 30%

■ Seminar Presentation (800 words equivalent) - 10%

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

■ There is no alternative to the exam, but extra time can be offered as a reasonable adjustment.

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ A recorded presentation as alternative to the seminar presentation.

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

The course aims to:

■ Gain an understanding of significant aspects of the social and cultural history of European and other societies in the period 1500-2000, exploring ways historians might make sense of change over time by looking more closely at various aspects of everyday life; 

■ Improve critical and evaluative skills in the handling of a variety of primary and secondary sources, and as wide a range of evidence as possible, enabling progress to Honours in History; 

■ Broaden awareness of a range of historical methods, historiography, interdisciplinarity and theory; 

■ Enhance confidence and independence of judgement in dealing with conflicting interpretations of major issues; 

■ Improve presentational and analytical skills through assessed essays, seminar papers, discussion, and group work.

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

■ identify the main characteristics of modern society and place their development in a narrative framework;

■ demonstrate an understanding of the ways historians analyse changes in western society;

■ demonstrate an understanding of relationships of power and inequality, with reference to gender, race, labour, empire and social control, among other factors;

■ analyse issues contributing to social identity, including consumption, work, family, community; religion and ideology, among others;

■ distinguish narrative from interpretation, and appreciate the function of each;

■ explain the role that theory may play in historical explanation and interpretation;

■ interrogate a variety of source materials, including texts, images, data and artefacts, explain the problems and advantages of working with each, and describe their rôle in the process of historical explanation;

■ demonstrate critical and analytical skills in the deployment of primary and secondary sources to support clear and valid arguments both in writing and in discussion.