HIST 218 - Rule Britannia, 1688- 1990: The History of Britain from the “Glorious” Revolution to the Iron Lady

FDR: HU
Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Winter 2015

This course explores three centuries of British history, from the Revolution of 1688 to the era of Margaret Thatcher. Between these years, Britain became the world’s pre-eminent industrial and imperial power— one that has had a profound influence on the history of America. Though only a small collection of islands in the North Atlantic, throughout these centuries Britain created, for good and for ill, an empire upon which the sun never set. At the same time, British society at home had to come to grips with dark underbelly of urban, industrial life - crime, disease, prostitution, unrest, etc. We examine the themes of revolution, economic growth, imperialism and decolonization, geopolitics, modern warfare, race and gender, and above all, ideas of “Britishness” across time and space. Staff.