THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Catalog description

This course offers a survey of the British Empire from its origins in the 16th century to the era of decolonization after 194 5. It analyzes how Britain, a small north European country, was able to conquer, settle and rule an empire that spanned the globe. It assesses how British citizens thought about their empire and how their various forms of imperialism transformed Britain. It further considers the experiences of colonized people and how different regions of the world were affected by imperial rule. Topi cs to be discussed may include explorations and colonial encounters, emigrant correspondences and diaries, visual culture (film, photography, paintings, sculptures, and newspaper cartoons), material culture (museums, exhibitions, and advertising), literatu re (novels, poetry, travel narratives) and indigenous oral histories. Prerequisites: HIST 101 and HIST 102.