HIST 226 British Empire, 1750-1970
What was the impact of the British Empire on the development of the modern world? Proceeding chronologically and thematically, this course explores that question through a survey of the expansion and contraction of Britain's imperial presence around the world. Through lecture and discussion of primary and secondary texts, we will explore the following: the shift from informal to formal empire; the economics of empire; slavery and its abolition; humanitarianism and the civilizing mission as justification for empire; and the use of violence in the conquest and maintenance of empire. Throughout the course, we will consider the advantages and limitations of using the British Empire as a model for understanding the history of globalization.