Module manager: Professor Andrea Major
Email: A.Major@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Empires have profoundly shaped global history. They underpinned the political and economic power of imperial nations like Great Britain and France, and they also shaped social and political dynamics in colonies like India, Algeria, or Kenya. This module explores the rise of different empires during the early modern and modern periods. It examines how and why empires were formed and what their impacts were on societies that were colonized. Equally, it explores how local populations reacted to imperial expansion. Finally, the module considers how imperialism shaped different social, political, and economic categories, ideas of race and gender, and mobilized new forms of resistance.
This module explores how empires have shaped regional and global dynamics in early modern and modern history. It will introduce students to key themes in the history of imperial expansion and investigate these in the context of a number of case studies. The module explores:
- how and why empires formed;
- empires’ political, economic, social, and cultural impacts on colonies and imperial centres of power;
- ways of thinking comparatively about different empires and colonies.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of processes of imperial power and diverse impacts of empires on societies across the world.
2. Recognise different historical arguments about the nature of empires and how imperial historiography has developed over time.
3. Appreciate the range, value, and challenges of a selection of primary sources from individuals and groups involved in empire.
4. Demonstrate a familiarity with a critical vocabulary for analysing the history of empires and processes of change.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Construct a structured and coherent argument based on appropriate selection and use of evidence.
6. Communicate your ideas in ways that are appropriate to the discipline, and apply fundamental standards and practices in terms of academic rigour.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Seminar activities and discussions will allow you to develop your skills in reading and thinking critically about academic articles. You will also do a group source analysis exercise, which will receive written feedback from your tutor. These activities will help develop the skills needed for the summative essay You will also have the opportunity to meet with your tutor to get feedback on your approach to the essay.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 29/08/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team