Compulsory and elective courses

Company paintings, gouache on mica, artist and year unknown. Danish colony Tranquebar. The National Museum, Copenhagen. Photo by Jesper Kurt Nielsen, CC-BY-SA

Objectives

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• describe the historiography of the main trends in imperialism from the mid­15th century until today,
• critically evaluate the main conditions, causes and motives of colonialism and imperialism in various historical contexts,
• identify and explain strengths and weaknesses in some theories on imperialism and colonialism and discuss these in relation to their historiographic contexts,
• assess academic and other accounts of imperialism in relation to relevant theories, historic empirical material and contemporary sources.

Content

In this course students develop an understanding of the causes and consequences of imperialism and colonialism from the mid­15th century until today, focusing on the period of increasing European expansion ca 1750–1914. The course specifically analyses the roles of imperial dominance and opposition in the making of the modern world, as well as its influence on contemporary society. Alternative views on the causes and effects of imperialism and colonialism are investigated from long­term historical, global and comparative perspectives. Some themes are discussed, including different types of dominance, inequality, violence, boundaries, gender, race and civilisation. The course explores contemporary conflicts on imperial and colonial heritage, and current research debates.