HIS-30123 - Crisis, Conflict and Commerce I: From Union to Westphalia, 1603-1648
Coordinator: Siobhan M Talbott Tel: +44 1782 7 33464
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

This final-year optional module examines the ways in which warfare and political changes affected trade in Britain and Europe in the seventeenth century. We consider the ways in which early-modern warfare impacted commerce, through naval battles, the presence of pirates and privateers in international waters, and restrictions on commercial exchanges. We look at key political events, and how they influenced the ways in which trade was conducted, including the Union of Crowns (1603), the British Civil Wars (1639-51), and the Peace of Westphalia (1648). We consider the validity of the `general crisis¿ argument, and explore the ways in which merchants and other commercial agents responded to the problems they faced as a result of war. Towards the end of the module we look at the ways in which early-modern warfare has been represented in historical fiction, through an examination of both contemporary and modern representations of the Thirty Years¿ War (1618-1648). Although nominally this module ends in 1648, we consider some issues that go beyond this date, including the Anglo-Scottish Union of 1707.

Aims
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: 1,2,3
understand the range of methodological approaches that can be used to approach the topics covered: 1,2,3
appreciate the importance of economic, political, social and intellectual approaches to the topics discussed: 1,3
evaluate and critically assess a range of primary sources and use them appropriately in the development of historical analysis: 2,3
present their ideas orally, in a clear, accessible manner: 3
identify the historiographical debates surrounding the topics discussed in this module: 1,3

Study hours

24 seminar attendance
12 hours watching pre-recorded short podcast-type lectures and/or attending whole cohort sessions based on these recordings
54 seminar preparation, including presentation preparation
40 researching/writing historiographical review
20 take-home examination preparation and completion

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Review weighted 40%
Historiographical review
2000 word historiographical review of a key debate in early modern commercial or military history.

2: Seen Exam weighted 50%
24-hour take-home exam
A take-home exam. Students are given 8 hours to comment on and contextualise 3 documentary extracts drawn from a list of c.10. Answers will comprise c. 1500-2000 words.

3: Group Presentation weighted 10%
Assessed presentation during seminar hours
An assessed presentation, for which topics will be assigned to students at the beginning of the module. Students will be expected to provide a handout and/or powerpoint slides to accompany their presentation.