ML1LIB: Liberty and Empire in the Making of the Modern World: 1789-to the Present

Module code: ML1LIB

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Athena Leoussi, email: a.s.leoussi@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

This module offers a panorama of the modern world as it was shaped by two contradictory tendencies: liberty and empire, and their legacies in the twenty-first century. Through the study of a wide range of historical documents, both textual and visual, small group discussions and debates, the module will examine the liberal movements for democracy and national independence around the world, that brought about the collapse of old empires in the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The module will also examine the opposite trend, the rise of a new European imperialism in Africa and Asia.

Focusing on Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Latin America and the Middle East, the module explores salient features of these contradictory features of the modern experience - the struggle for liberty and the struggle for domination - through their cultural impact and their implications for the lives of ordinary people.    

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Define the key terms of liberalism and imperialism and cite their leading theorists and advocates
2. Compare and contrast different empires and their cultural policies
3. Compare and contrast different anti-colonial/anti-imperialist movements around the world and their cultural expressions
4. Describe different motivations for empire.

Module content

The module examines the struggle for liberty and domination in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East from the French Revolution of 1789 to the present day. It examines liberalism and imperialism in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Latin America and the Middle East. It focuses on the European and Ottoman Empires and considers the cultural impact of empire and empire-building and the cultural implications of independence from foreign rule.  The module is divided into national-regional sections, on France, Germany, Italy, Latin America and the Middle East, each section exploring liberty and empire in that nation or region, from 1789 to the present.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars, and study of a wide range of historical documents, textual, visual, and digital, small group discussions and debates.

Study hours

At least 30 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.

Weekly seminar format comprises plenty of interactive group discussion, student presentations and class participation.

Reassessment

Additional costs