HSY2950 - Slavery, Freedom and Revolution: the Enlightenment and the French Revolution

Leader: David Garrioch

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

The debate over the slave trade was one of the key issues of the Enlightenment and was closely linked to debates about freedom and despotism in Europe itself. This unit follows changing ideas about slavery and freedom from the mid eighteenth century into the French Revolution and through to the rule of Napoleon. It will use case studies to explore the intellectual and social conflicts of the period and the way European society, culture, and politics were changing. Students will choose their group presentations from a range of topics linked to religious, political, scientific and literary debates and conflicts of the period.

Objectives

Students successfully completing this subject should have gained knowledge of the political and social systems and ideologies of eighteenth and early nineteenth century Europe and a familiarity with some of the principal historiographical debates relevant to Europe during this period, in particular debates about slavery, despotism, and freedom, class formation, the state, secularisation, gender relations and the French Revolution and Empire. Students should have also gained understanding of some of the major philosophical and scientific debates of the period, in addition to comprehending the social and economic impact of further exploration of the globe, particularly of the Pacific and America. Through this unit students should have attained an understanding of the origins of many institutions, structures and thought in existence today; witnessing the transformation of the medieval era into the foundations of modern Europe.

In addition to acquiring the subject specific knowledge, students who successfully complete this unit will also attain the skills specific to second and third year study in the School of Historical Studies.

Assessment

Bibliography exercise (500 words): 5%
Class test (50 minutes): 25%
Group presentation (approx. 10 minutes per student): 30%
Essay (2400 words): 40%

Contact hours

2.5 hours (1 lecture and one 1.5 hour workshop) per week

Prerequisites

A first year sequence in History or permission

Prohibitions

HSY3950, EUR2950, EUR3950