This course will offer the unique opportunity comparatively to study the twentieth century history of Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia, three European countries that have experienced Nazism and communism, by analysing a series of key period literary texts, using them as evidence-based material which bears testimony of the value system of each historical era. The analysis of the period literary works will be framed within lectures and seminars explaining, with the help of relevant historical literature, the cultural and political context.

10x1hr lectures; 10x1hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled in MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus. 

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Exam (90 minutes duration) - 50%

■ Essay (2,500 words) - 40%

■ Oral Presentation (8 minutes) - 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/alternative space can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

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

■ 1:1 presentation / Q&A with course convenor or recorded presentation as alternative to seminar presentation.

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

This course aims to:

■ Carry out a comparative study of the twentieth century history of three medium-sized European nations;

■ Develop critical and evaluative skills in the handling of a variety of primary and secondary sources, including period cultural material from the realm of literature within the context of a relevant historical framework;

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

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

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

■ Identify the key characteristics of twentieth century historical development within a three Central European nations which have experienced democracy, Nazi occupation and communism;

■ Define thoroughly the major political and social issues which have affected the lives of Europeans over the past hundred years;

■ Employ the appropriate historical methodologies involved in studying cultural artefacts;

■ Interpret literary artefacts within the appropriate historical context;

■ Interrogate a variety of literary source materials and describe their role in the process of historical explanation;

■ Critically evaluate the role that theory may play in historical explanation and interpretation.