Module Identifier HY36230  
Module Title THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE 'ENGLISH' REVOLUTION  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Dr Michael F Roberts  
Semester Semester 1  
Course delivery Lecture    
  Seminars / Tutorials    
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam3 Hours  60%
Semester Assessment 2 X 2,500 WORD ESSAYS  40%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

a) Demonstrate familiarity with a substantial body of historical knowledge in the field of the political history of the British Isles 1603-88
b) Engage in source criticism, discussion and understanding of contemporary political concepts, and their relationship to religious and social experience
c) Demonstrate familiarity with a wide range of historical techniques relevant to the interpretation of political behaviour in 17th-century society
d) Gather and sift appropriate items of historical evidence
e) Read, analyse and reflect critically on secondary and primary texts, in particular the large and varied body of printed books and pamphlets collected by the bookseller George Thomason during the period 1640-60
f) Explore the relationships between history and other disciplines, particularly political science, literary criticism
g) Develop the ability to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of particular historical arguments and where necessary challenge them.
h) Develop oral (not assessed) and written skills which will have been improved through seminar discussions and essays
i) Work both independently and collaboratively, and to participate in group discussions (not assessed).

Brief description

This option module provides a broad coverage of the complex, exciting and lastingly influential events which dominated the history of the British Isles in the central decades of the 17th century. The approach adopted is that followed by the most recent accounts of the subject, which in recent years have laid much emphasis on placing the English Civil War, or the 'English Revolution', in its wider 'British' context. The module will explore therefore the relationships not only between Westminster and the English or Welsh county communities, but also between religious and political communities in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England during the 17th century as a whole.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
S.G. Ellis, & S. Barber (eds.) (1995) Conquest and Union : Fashioning a British State 1485-1725
M. Bennett (1997) The Civil Wars in Britain and Ireland 1638-1651

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6