Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Starting with the French Revolution, the unit explores the importance of war for the formation of national identities from the late eighteenth to the Twentieth century. We will look at the American Civil War, the German and Italian wars of unification, and nineteenth-century Imperialism. Finally, students will learn about the role of warfare in Australian society and the transformation of Gallipoli into a founding myth of Australian nationhood. This chronological framework will be supplemented by the exploration of themes that are central to a critical understanding of history. We will ask how war transformed societies and how industrialisation and science changed the nature of war.

Objectives

Students who have successfully completed this unit will be able to demonstrate:

1. an understanding of the major issues in the historiography of modern war and nationalism.
2. Knowledge of the history of major military conflicts during the long nineteenth century.
3. the ability to explain how wars have transformed Western societies.
4. the ability to assess the impact of war on people's understanding of gender, social class, and citizenship.
5. the ability to discuss critically the impact of wars on the creation of national identities and mythologies.
6. the ability to analyse critically different kinds of historical sources.
7. the development of skills for collaborative learning and group work.
8. the acquisition of solid writing and oral presentation skills.

Assessment

Written work: 60% (2700 words)
Exam: 30%
Participation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

David Garrioch

Contact hours

Two hours of lectures, one tutorial

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

History