Module manager: Dr Simon Quinn
Email: S.Quinn@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Georgian Britons had a complex relationship with war and the armed forces. During the 75 years between 1740 and 1815 Britain and Ireland experienced defeats and invasion, military victories and lucky escapes, mass mobilisation and demobilisation. Britain’s armed forces served across the globe, and the Army and Navy drew in people from across the world. Furthermore, social and cultural attitudes oscillated wildly, championing some soldiers and sailors as heroes whilst others were lampooned or despised. You will explore the impact of war on the lived experience of service personnel and take a broad perspective of the period by encompassing society, politics, culture, and gender to explore the multi-faceted interactions between the military and society. You will study the experience of both the ‘elite’ and ordinary men and women who were affected by war. The primary sources you will have the opportunity to work with will include parliamentary debates, newspapers, digitised archival material, material culture, private letters, and individual testimony. 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.
The aim of this module is to provide you with a thorough understanding of the impacts of war and military service on British and Irish society and culture in the Georgian era, how this history shaped Britain and Ireland, and its continued resonance today. Through the module’s seminars, you will work closely on primary and secondary sources, both those provided through the module and those you discover. The learning activities will provide you opportunities to develop your critical thinking and communication skills.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Critically assess the impact of war and military service on British and Irish society and culture in the period c.1740-1815.
2. Interpret a range of historical sources available from the period and evaluate their usefulness to historians.
3. Evaluate the cultural representations of war and military service from this period.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Effectively and accurately communicate historical information tailored to different formats.
5. Find and appraise appropriate sources of information.
6. Synthesise and evaluate multiple sources of information to form evidence-based arguments.
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 | ||
Students will be participating in a variety of tasks throughout the module where they explore themes, issues, and approaches to develop their critical appreciation of the topic. These include set reading (both primary and secondary material), which feed into analysis, discussion, and summaries within the seminars. These provide opportunities to self-identify and reflect upon their knowledge. Informal feedback from the tutor within the seminar discussions will also provide ways of students gauging their progress.
Students will receive formative support and guidance for the essay through an essay plan and the follow-up one-to-one meetings before the submission of their essay. They will then receive feedback on their essay after it is marked and submitted, with the opportunity for a one-to-one meeting.
The portfolio provides specific opportunities for formative feedback opportunities within the module. Each component for the portfolio will have appropriate briefings for the tasks, which will be followed by feedback that students can then use in subsequent components of their portfolio.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 50 |
| Coursework | Portfolio | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Resits will be in the format of the original assignment.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team