HIS-30123 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

The early modern period tends to be categorised as one of conflict and upheaval, as numerous wars engulfed Britain and Europe. Conflict inevitably affected the conduct of international trade and the maintenance of political relationships, due to naval battles, the presence of pirates and privateers in international waters, and restrictions on commercial exchanges. This has contributed to a long tradition of scholarship suggesting that the European economy passed through a `general crisis¿ during the seventeenth century, and/or that international trade suffered as a result. However, in some regions international commerce continued to thrive despite the political context. Merchants formed international networks of contacts that enabled them to trade, and governments did not always uphold the legislation that they themselves had implemented.
This module considers the validity of the `general crisis¿ argument. We look at the ways in which war affected commerce, and the ways in which merchants and other commercial agents responded to these problems. We consider the impact on commerce of domestic upheaval in Britain, and Britain¿s position within the wider European conflict of the Thirty Years¿ War. Crucially, Britain is considered not only in monolithic terms, but as three distinct kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. This module leads into the module Crisis, Conflict and Commerce II, for which module I is a pre-requisite.

To introduce students to the ways in which warfare and changes in politics affected commerce in Britain and Europe from the Union of Crowns (1603) to the Peace of Westphalia (1648); to enable students to analyse various methodological approaches used by historians in exploring early modern war and commerce; to familiarise students with historiographical debates surrounding the period; to enhance students¿ understanding of the importance of social and cultural, as well as political, historical contexts in studying commercial history.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate knowledge of the ways in which warfare and political upheaval affected commercial exchange and economic development in early modern Britain and Europe; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
identify the historiographical debates surrounding the topics discussed in this module; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3
understand the range of methodological approaches that can be used to approach the topics covered; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
appreciate the importance of economic, political, social and intellectual approaches to the topics discussed; will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
evaluate and critically assess a range of primary sources and use them appropriately in the development of historical analysis; will be achieved by assessments: 2, 3
present their ideas orally, in a clear, accessible manner. will be achieved by assessments: 3

Study hours

22 seminar attendance, 58 seminar preparation, 40 researching/writing historiographical review, 30 take-home examination preparation and completion

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment