Module manager: Professor Peter Anderson
Email: P.P.Anderson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The Spanish Civil War forms the most important conflict in the inter-war period and marks a number of important watershed moments in twentieth-century history. It represented the most important clash between Fascism and Democracy of the period and volunteers from around the world rushed to Spain in an effort they hoped would prevent Fascist aggression. Meanwhile, the Nazis, Mussolini and the Soviet Union all intervened in the conflict while the British and the French pursued appeasement. Authors like George Orwell travelled to Spain to fight Fascism and here Orwell began to shape his ideas on totalitarianism. Photographers such as Robert Capa also pioneered new forms of war photography while the Nazis launched the first mass bombardment of a European town at Guernica. In response, humanitarians cared for refugees from total war including nearly 4,000 children evacuated to the United Kingdom. <p>Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.</p>
The module aims to engage you in some of the lively debates surrounding the Spanish Civil War in both its domestic and international contexts and to do so by drawing on both the secondary literature and primary sources in English.
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Have a deep and informed understanding of the central issues involved in the Spanish Civil War in both its domestic and international contexts;
2. Understand the different kinds of sources historians draw upon to research the Spanish Civil War in both its domestic and international contexts;
3. Have a sophisticated and critical knowledge of the secondary literature of the Spanish Civil War;
4. Have the skills to read and interpret both written and non-written primary sources; and
5. Express your ideas and arguments effectively and persuasively on paper and in scholarly discussion.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Supervision | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Seminar | 20 | 2 | 40 |
| Private study hours | 355.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 44.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
You will receive regular feedback in from the module tutor via class discussions, office-hour appointments and e-mail. You will get feedback on an essay plan and in a one-to-meeting with the tutor; you will receive feedback on sample gobbet answers in the run up to the OTLA. .
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Online Time-Limited assessment | 48.0 Hrs 0 Mins | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 28/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team