HIST 130 The Path to Brexit
Pundits debate endlessly the reasons Britain has decided to end its almost fifty-year membership in the European Union. Missing from most popular accounts, however, is the history of Britain's complicated relationship with Europe. This seminar takes the long view, going back a millennium to explore how the British Isles have interacted with Europe since the Norman invasion of 1066. Through reading and discussion, we will see how Britain over the past centuries has defined itself in opposition to the Continent, and has occasionally made peace with it. Putting Brexit in historical context will allow us to see what appears to be a short-term political crisis as part of the longer history of a nation.