Students

MHIS2017 – Empire of Liberty? Britain and the Globalization of the World

2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Leigh Boucher
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in HIST or MHIS or POL or POIR or MHIX or POIX units)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Over the course of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Britain transformed the world. Beginning with the Glorious Revolution of 1688, this period saw the rise of Britain from a relatively weak position on the margins of Europe to the centre of the largest and most influential empire in the modern world. This unit will consider how the British Empire functioned as a carrier of modernity around the globe over two hundred years. It will look at Britain's rise to power through trade; its establishment of settlements in the Americas, with its attendant institutionalization of both slavery and a rhetoric of liberty; and the crumbling of British Atlantic holdings in revolution by 1776. It also looks at British renewal in the Indo-Pacific region, alongside growing calls at home for liberal political reform. The unit will briefly survey the relatively rapid unravelling of the Empire through the twentieth century. Throughout we will investigate the nature of resistance to empire. The unit will appeal especially to students of European history and postcolonial studies.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Understand and explain some chief threads of British imperial activity during the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries.
  • ULO2: Understand and evaluate the ways in which the British Empire since 1688 has served as a globalizing carrier of modernity.
  • ULO3: Produce written work on multiple aspects of British imperial activity and impact based on primary- and secondary-source research.
  • ULO4: Synthesize your understandings and analysis into clear, specific arguments presented in cogent writing with appropriate references.
  • ULO5: Engage with staff and other students in classroom discussions and present your ideas and opinions orally.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Reading report 20% No 21/9/2020
Essay Plan and Progress Report 10% No 5/10/2020
Research Essay 50% No 9/11/2020
Fortnightly Quiz 20% No In 3 batches through semester

Reading report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 21/9/2020
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will produce a short reading report that critically analyses a selection of secondary readings from the course material and analyses how they engage with the central themes of the unit. This assessment offers a chance for students to receive early feedback on their writing and ensure they understand the approach of the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and explain some chief threads of British imperial activity during the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries.
  • Understand and evaluate the ways in which the British Empire since 1688 has served as a globalizing carrier of modernity.
  • Produce written work on multiple aspects of British imperial activity and impact based on primary- and secondary-source research.
  • Engage with staff and other students in classroom discussions and present your ideas and opinions orally.

Essay Plan and Progress Report

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 5/10/2020
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will produce an essay plan that reports on the early stages of their research, answering a set of questions about the resources they have consulted and further research they will complete.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and explain some chief threads of British imperial activity during the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries.
  • Understand and evaluate the ways in which the British Empire since 1688 has served as a globalizing carrier of modernity.
  • Synthesize your understandings and analysis into clear, specific arguments presented in cogent writing with appropriate references.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: 9/11/2020
Weighting: 50%

 

Research essay topics will be made available on ilearn by week 3 and will relate to the weekly topics covered in the unit. Students will conduct independent research to develop an historical interpretation and place this in an historiographic field. Workshops will be held in seminars to guide students through this major task. This assessment focuses on a deep knowledge of one topic covered in the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and explain some chief threads of British imperial activity during the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries.
  • Understand and evaluate the ways in which the British Empire since 1688 has served as a globalizing carrier of modernity.
  • Produce written work on multiple aspects of British imperial activity and impact based on primary- and secondary-source research.
  • Synthesize your understandings and analysis into clear, specific arguments presented in cogent writing with appropriate references.

Fortnightly Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: In 3 batches through semester
Weighting: 20%

 

The quiz consists of short answer questions in response to lecture material and multiple choice questions relating to the reading material.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Understand and explain some chief threads of British imperial activity during the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries.
  • Understand and evaluate the ways in which the British Empire since 1688 has served as a globalizing carrier of modernity.
  • Produce written work on multiple aspects of British imperial activity and impact based on primary- and secondary-source research.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Students will be required to listen to 1.5-2 hours of online lectures via the echo system every week, complete required readings (available on ilearn) and contribute to online discussion fora.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.