HS2O3: People, power and revolution: political culture in seventeenth-century England

Module code: HS2O3

Module provider: History; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Rachel Foxley, email: r.h.foxley@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The political narrative of seventeenth-century England is eventful: one Stuart monarch, Charles I, was tried and executed by his own subjects in 1649 following two civil wars; another, James II, was ousted and replaced in the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688-9. In the middle of the century England came under republican government and experienced the rise to power of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector. In this module we will ask where this extraordinary turbulence came from and what it was like to experience and participate in politics in the seventeenth century. Who ruled England in the seventeenth century? Did ordinary people know about or get involved in politics? Why did two revolutions take place, and how different was politics was by the end of the century compared to the situation when James I came to the throne in 1603?

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand the development of political events and the changes in political culture across the seventeenth century
2. Analyse primary sources from the seventeenth century effectively
3. Express ideas effectively both orally (in class work) and in writing
4. Draw on and assess the relevant historiography to make well-supported arguments about aspects of seventeenth-century politics

Module content

We will cover the political events of seventeenth-century England chronologically across the semester, while looking in detail at themes such as: personal monarchy and the culture of the court; parliaments, elections, and representation; popular politics, petitioning, and crowd action; the culture of news, in manuscript and print; plays, libels, and satirical pamphlets; portraiture, royal and republican; republican culture and the Cromwellian court; the birth of political parties; theories of monarchy and resistance. We will look at a wide range of sources, written and visual. Students will be encouraged to make use of online resources such as Early English Books Online and Early Stuart Libels.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching is seminar-based, with lecture elements interspersed with primary source analysis and discussion exercises. Students will be encouraged to discuss sources or issues in pairs or groups before presenting their ideas informally to the whole class where required. Some class time will be devoted to developing skills of analysis and writing in preparation for the coursework.

Study hours

At least 33 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs