This course provides students with an understanding of key developments that contributed to the rise of imperialism among European nations during the long nineteenth century. Students will be introduced to some of the most important thinkers and concepts in the writing of imperial history in order to explain how European imperialism stimulated economic growth and modernization in some colonies but severely hindered development in others. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to examine the work of contemporary theorists and scholars of Empire such as J.R. Seeley, J.A. Hobson and John Stuart Mill and how their writings have been interpreted and critiqued by modern-day imperial historians such as John Gallagher and Ronald Robinson, P.J. Cain and Anthony Hopkins and C.A. Bayly.

CILO-1: Engage with the history of colonialism and imperialism. CILO-2: Master some of the key concepts, theories, themes and work of scholars in the study of nineteenth-century colonialism and imperialism. CILO-3: Develop skills, including how to critically analyze the effects of colonialism and imperialism in terms of its ideology, institutional construction and reception throughout the British empire. CILO-4: Evaluate the legacy and ongoing penetration of colonial and imperialistic thoughts and practices in daily lives around the world.