HIST 1108 - Empires in World History

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014

From the beginning of recorded history to the twentieth century, the world has been shaped by the rise and fall of empires. The purpose of this course is to explore how and why empires were constructed, how they were kept together, how rulers and the ruled interacted, and how and why empires disintegrated. Focusing on five case studies, we shall draw wider conclusions about the nature of empires in world history. The scope of the course is global because we shall look at representative examples of European empires (the British and French empires etc), Asian empires (the Chinese and Mughal empires etc), and empires of the western hemisphere (the Inca and Aztec empires, the American Empire etc). Not only will the course explore the political history of the empires, it will also deal with issues such as the role of women in empire, and the impact of empire on language, culture, religion, the economy, the environment, and the relationship between the art of empire and politics. The course has three main objectives. Firstly, it provides an introduction to the study of history at university level. Students will receive training in the practice of history, for example, how to use primary and secondary sources and how to frame an historical argument. Secondly, the course furnishes students with an overview of the `big picture' of world history across the last 1,500 years. Students will acquire essential contextual knowledge which will enrich their understanding of almost any subsequent course they take in history or the humanities. Thirdly, the course introduces students to civilisations that are quite different and in some ways alien to our own, and yet which in many ways are similar. In our interconnected world, an understanding of the historical roots of different cultures is a prerequisite for global citizenship.

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Course Details

Course Code	HIST 1108
Course	Empires in World History
Coordinating Unit	Historical and Classical Studies
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	3 hours per week
Assessment	Tutorial participation (10%), 2 x quizzes (20%), 1200 word research exercise (30%), 2000 word comparative essay (40%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Tom Buchanan

Dr Thomas Buchanan (course convenor)
Napier 518
thomas.buchanan@adelaide.edu.au
Telephone: 8313 4682

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

To be announced.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate:

1	Understanding of a broad body of historical knowledge ranging over time, space, and cultures.
2	Understanding of change and continuity over time.
3	Ability to identify and access a wide variety of relevant primary, secondary, textual and visual materials.
4	Ability to contextualize, synthesize, and critically evaluate historical sources.
5	Ability to evaluate and generate ideas and to construct evidence-based arguments in various formats in a planned and timely manner.
6	An appreciation of, and sensitivity to, the diversity of historical and visual cultures.
7	Knowledge of the range of available technologies and appreciation of their strengths and weaknesses.
8	A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.
9	Commitment to an academically rigorous approach to learning including intellectual honesty and respect.
10	Capacity to examine historical issues according to the scholarly and ethical conventions of the discipline of history.
11	An awareness of the ethical, social and cultural implications of historical enquiry within a global context.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1, 2
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	3, 4
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	5
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	6
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	7, 8
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	9
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	10
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	11

Learning Resources

Required Resources

To be announced.

Recommended Resources

To be announced.

Online Learning

Additional course-related material will be available through MyUni.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures will help students answer the key questions the course asks of each empire contained in the course. Tutorials will contain a mix of foundational skills-based exercizes and discussion of primary documents that reveal the empire under study in a given week.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirments.

Students will commit the equivalent of 156 hours per semester to study in this course.

Learning Activities Summary

The main focus on this course is provide broad knowledge of historical change and sensativity to diverse experiences in history. It also provides an introduction to the basic skills necessary to undertake historical study at an advanced level.

Specific Course Requirements

To be announced.

Small Group Discovery Experience

The tutorials in this course function as a small group discovery experience, where students will collectively investigate texts, and discuss research skills, in a collaborative environment.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Provisional assessments include essays, quizzes, and tutorial participation.

Assessment Related Requirements

To be announced.

Assessment Detail

To be announced.

Submission

Assessment submission details will be included in the course profile contained on MyUni.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

This course will follow the standard marking scheme. Further details will be given to you at the beginning of the course.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

This course will use MyUni gradebook and final marks will be available through access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

Students will be given an opportunity to give feedback through SELTs in this course.
Student Support
Students are encouraged to make use of available support services for this course.
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator