General provisions

The Department of History is responsible for the course. The course was approved by the board of the Department of History 2007-09-12.

Entry requirements

Students admitted to any one-year or two-year Master's programme of the Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, a Bachelor's degree and eligible exchange students.

Learning outcomes

The current process of globalisation and the transformation of the nation state generate today a renewed interest for empires and their role throughout history. The purpose of this course is to give students an up-to-date perspective of the studies on modern notions of empire and its political configurations, economic realms and cultural constructions. Among the core questions of the curriculum are the conflicting concepts of empire, their historical trajectories and present applications. In addition, the tension between either empire and globalisation, or empire and the modern nation state will be explored. The course provides students with advanced insights and deeper understanding of the current research debates in the humanities and social sciences.

Learning outcomes and competences

The student will:

- acquire up-to-date knowledge of contemporary studies of empire, including relevant methodological and theoretical approaches.

- acquire an awareness of the different historiographical outlooks of the history of empires.

- develop ability to critically evaluate and apply different theoretical and conceptual perspectives employed in studies of empire.

- develop and improve skills to define research topics suitable to contribute to historical knowledge, and to analyse the topics and present the analyses in concise and comprehensible ways.

Content

The course will consist of a number combined lectures and seminars focusing on specific themes and questions. Seminar discussions will be based on mandatory literature list and suggested readings. Active participation in seminars and the writing and discussing of a short essay is required for a successful completion of the course.

The course will focus on the following topics

- The economy of empires

- Fiscal military states and European expansion

- The formation of imperial power

- Empires of knowledge

- Empire and its limits

- Invisible empires, imperial paradoxes

Assessment

Examination will include active participation in seminars and the writing and examination of a final essay. In relation to every seminar, students shall write and circulate in advance a one-page reflection based on the compulsory readings for that seminar, with the exception of the introductory lecture. This makes the seminars examinatory. In case the student is unable to participate in the seminar, he or she has to submit a more extended written reflection on the seminar topic (2-3 pages). The final essay (10-12 pages or approx. 5000 words) shall address an empirical or theoretical question discussed in the course in relation to the literature. Grades will be given in accordance with the Swedish grading system. The following grades will be used: A and B (Pass with distinction), C, D and E (Pass), and Fx and F (Failed).

Other regulations

Employability

Graduates with a Master's degree in humanities/history will be employable in a wide variety of occupations. A Master in history provides a good basis for responsible positions in secondary and higher education (PhD programme), civil service on the local, regional and national levels, personnel management, journalism, international organisations, tourism as well as enhancing cultural heritage in its various manifestations including archives, museums and libraries. Knowledge provided in the course The History of Empire is particularly relevant for students and professionals working internationally in the fields of development and political analysis who aim at widening their general competence in international history.