European Imperialism - Unizin · imperialism, provide you a framework to better describe of how...

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EuropeanImperialism:ExpansionandContraction?–1870-presentHistory223:Spring2015Lecturer:LaneSunwallOffice:4214MosseHumanitiesOfficeHours:Mon.12:00-2:00pmorbyappointmentOnlineOfficeHours:Tues.1:00-2:00pm OfficePhone:(608)890-3557EmailAddress:sunwall@wisc.eduCourseDescriptionandIntroductionWelcometoHistory223!Thiscoursewillintroduceyoutonineteenth-andtwentieth-centuryEuropeanimperialism,provideyouaframeworktobetterdescribeofhowEuropeanempireshelpedshapemodernworldhistory,anddiscussthecontinuinginfluenceEuropean“empires”haveontheworldonwhichwelivetoday.WhenwethinkoftheEuropeanempiresweoftenconjureimagesofpithhelmets,theFrenchLegionnaires,orgunboatdiplomacy.Formanyofus,imperialismissomethinginthepast,somethingended.Ourknowledgeisspottyatbest.InthisclasswewillworktogethertofillinourknowledgegapsanddiscoverhowthesmalldisunitednationsofEuropecametodominatemuchoftheworld’slandmass.YetthegeographicallargessofEurope’sempiresisbutonepieceofamuchlargerpuzzle.Toprovideyouwithabettermeansofinterpretingimperialism,thiscoursewillpushyoutodiscoverthemultipleorigins,andheterogeneousnatureofimperialsystems.Moreimportantly,wewillchallengetheverydefinitionofempireandexploretheimperialsystem’smethodofpolitical,economic,military,social,andreligiouscontrol.Furthermore,thiscoursewillendeavortocontextualizeEuropeanimperialismwithintheframeworkofworldempiresandintheprocessdestabilizethemythofEuropeanimperialismassomethingentirelyuniqueinhumanhistory.Inaddition,wewillexplorethefinalcollapseofEurope’sempiresinthetwentiethcentury,notastheinevitableoutcomeofhistoricalforces,butaresultofmultiplecontingentfactorsthatfinallydissolvedEurope’spoliticalcontroloverfar-flungempires.Finally,wewillthenexaminetheimplicationsofcolonialdissolutionforEuropeitself.Giventhedeclineoftheirpoliticalandmilitarycontrolovertheirformercolonies,Europeanimperialismisnowcommonlyseenasabygonerelicofanowdefunctage.Thiscoursewillquestionthisassumption,andreexaminetraditionalnarrativestounderstandhowimperialism,viasocial,economic,political,andevenmilitaryinfluenceand/orpressure,continuestoinfluenceworldaffairstothisday.History200willbecomposedofonlineandin-classlecture,discussion,andreadings.Thereadingsaredesignedtosupplementandcomplimentlecturesandfacilitatediscussion;theyarenotasubstituteforattendanceorparticipation,norarelectureanddiscussionsectionssubstitutesforreading.Finally,efficientcommunicationisimportanttoallprofessionalwalksoflifeandHistory200isdesignedtoassiststudentsinimprovingoralandwrittencommunicationthroughpapers,onlinediscussion,andface-to-facediscussionsections.CourseObjectivesHistoryissomuchmorethanthememorizationoffacts,ordiscussionofthestaledetailsofpowerfulmenlong-sincedead.Thestudyofhistory,whendonethoughtfully,opensustothelivesandstoriesofthosevarietyofpeoplewhosetthestagefortheworldinwhichwenowlive,itforcesustore-examineourownprejudicesandvalues,andfinally,itenablesustojudgebetterbetweencompetingclaimsoftruth.Bytheendofthesemesteryouwillbeableto:

1. DescribethebasicstructureandhistoryofmodernEuropeanImperialism,appraisetheimpactEuropeanempireshaduponglobalhistory,andinterprettheinfluenceEurope’scolonialpastcontinuestowieldintheworldtoday.

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2. Discussthevariouspolitical,cultural,religious,andeconomicmanifestationsofimperialpower,andchallengeinterpretationsofEuropeanimperialismthatarenarrowlyfocusedonpoliticalpower,militaryviolence,andgeographiccontrol.

3. Identifytheday-to-dayimpactempirehaduponimperialsubjects,illustratethewaysinwhichpeoplefromallwalksoflifenegotiatedtheconfinesandcontradictionsofempirefortheirownends,anddemonstratethatempirenotonlyruledthroughhegemoniccontrol,butvianegotiated,ifunequal,relationshipsthatrequiredalevelofcooperationfromallpartiesinvolved.

4. Explainyourownthoughts,ideas,andbeliefstoagroupofpeersinstrong,concise,andthoughtfulmannerutilizingeitherwrittentext,oralargumentation,audio-visualsoracombinationofallthree.

5. Composearesearchpaperthateffectivelylaysoutalogicalargument,iswellstructured,supportedbycarefullysiftedevidence,andisgrammaticallypolished.

6. Effectivelyyoketheexpertiseandperspectivesofagroupofpeerstoaidyouintheformationofyourownideasandinfulfillingthelearningobjectivesofthiscourse.

ContactPoliciesPleasedonothesitatetocontactmewhenevertheneedshouldarise.Ifyoufindthatyouarehavinganydifficultywiththeclass,itisbestifwetalksoonerratherthanlaterinordertogetyoubackontherighttrack.Forcontactpurposes,emailisthebestmethodtoreachme.Icheckmyinboxeachweekday,withtheexceptionofuniversityholidays,andwillreturnyouremailwithin48hours.RequiredReadingsTherequiredweeklyreadingswillmakeuseofbothsecondaryliteratureconcerningEuropeanempires.Thegoalofthecourse’sreadingsistoprovideyouwithabasicunderstandingoftheempiresinquestion,theirhistoricalconstruct,thevarioushistoriographicalinterpretationsofthem,andtheirimpactuponcontemporarypeople.Readingthesetextswillprovideyouwiththebasicinformationneededtodevelopyourowninterpretationofimperialism,theknowledgetodiscussimperialisminanintelligentmanner,andthetoolsnecessarytojustifyyourargumentsconcerningimperialism.AlloftheonlinereadingsareinPDFform,andareavailableonLearn@UW.Afewofthereadingsyouwillhavetoprocureyourself.Theyareavailableatthelibrary,atyourfavoriteonlineretailor,orattheUniversityBookstore.RequiredReadings-anyeditionwillsuffice

1. JaneBurbank,FrederickCooper,EmpiresinWorldHistory:PowerandthePoliticsofDifference.Princeton,NJ:PrincetonUniversityPress,2010.

2. MarkMazower.DarkContinent:Europe'sTwentiethCentury.NewYork:VintageBooks,2000.3. GeorgeOrwell,BurmeseDays.4. AimeCesaire,DiscourseonColonialism5. MoloudFeraoun,ThePoorMan’sSon

ScaffoldedEssaysAmongstthemostsought-aftertalentsemployeesseekfromcollegegraduatesaretheabilitytomakeclearandconcisearguments,andtheabilitytoexpressthoseargumentseffectivelybothorallyandinawrittenform.Thekeystobothareediting,peer-evaluation,andrevision.Nooneproducesapolished,well-arguedpaperinthefirstdraft.Onlybyreflectingonwhatwehavewritten,receivingfeedbackfromothers,andeditingforclarityandargumentationcanweproduceessaysthatarebothelegantandpersuasive.Thereforethiscourse’swrittenassignmentswillbestructuredsoastoreinforcetheimportanceofeditingandrevision.Overthecourseofthesemesteryouwillbeassignedthreetwo-pagepapersandoneeight-pagepaperonatopicyouselectwithguidancefromme.

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Eachtwo-pagepaperwillbuildupontheother,exploringconceptualandhistoriographicalthemesofthetopicyouselected,andwillaffordyoutheabilitytoconductmultiplerevisions.Theeight-pagepaperwillintegrateintoitselfthethreetwo-pagepapersandwillalsoberevisedviapeerreview.Thispaperwillrequireyoutofurtherdevelophistoriographicalpositionsmadeinearlierpapersandtosupportthemwithprimaryandsecondaryevidence.Inadditiontodevelopingyourabilitytoweighhistoricalevidenceandtocreatealogicalargumentfromit,theseassignmentsaredesignedtoimpressuponyoutheimportanceofrevision,andimproveyourabilitiesasawriter.PosterSessionWhilemanyhistoricaltreatiseslie‘amoldering’onlibraryshelvestheworldover,thatisnottheirpurpose.Historyismeanttobesharedandretold,engagingthehearer,challengingtheirbiases,andsparkingtheircuriosity.Therefore,foryourfinalassignmentyouwillbeaskedtoworkwithanotherclassmatewhohasselectedthesame(orasimilar)topicasyourselftocreatea“poster”presentation(basedonyourfinaleight-pagepaper)whichyouandyourpartnerwillpresentatapublicsymposiumtobeheldattheendofthesemester.Thiscapstoneprojectwillallowyoutoidentifyhowthemediuminwhichahistoricalargumentispresented(apaper,book,magazine,TVshow)impactsthemessageandargumentconveyed.Furthermore,thisprojectwillenableyoutobetterreflectonhowhistoryispresentedandconsumedinpopularculture.Finally,thisprojectwillimproveyourcommunicationskills,helpyouworkbetterwithagroup,trainyoutoconductandpresentoriginalresearch,anddemonstratetoyouhowtheskillsonedevelopsasahistoriancanbeusedoutsidethestudyofhistory.Youwillbegrantedwidelatitudeintheshapeyourpostertakesandintheargumentsyouandyourpartnermake.“Poster”presentationsshouldincorporatevisual,oral,andwrittenelements,butbeyondthat,theformyourpresentationtakesisalmostentirelyuptoyou!Youmaychoosetocreateatraditionalposter(gluedtofoamboardorhangingfromastand),youandyourpartnermaydecidetocreateaninteractivevideopresentation(usingPowerPoint,Prezi,orKeynote)anddisplayitwithaprojector,oryoumaycreateapresentationthatincorporatesbothtraditionalposterboard,presentationmedia(viaiPads–whichcanbeprovided),handouts,oraudio.Instructionsandexampleswillbeprovidedinclasstogetyoustarted.InpreparationforthisassignmentwewillreceivetrainingontheuseofmediacreationtoolsfromDoITStudentTrainingServices.DoITSTSprovidesahostoftrainingprograms(AdobeCreativeSuite,MicrosoftOfficeSuite,Handbrake,Audacity,etc.)Thetypesofsoftwarewereceivetrainingonwillbedecidedbyaclassvotelaterinthesemesterafteryouhavebegunyourproject.Thereareanumberofotherresourcesavailabletoyouaswell:WritingCenter,andDigitalMediaCenter(DMC).WewillworkcloselywiththeWritingCenterandtheDigitalMediaCenter(DMC)inthisassignment.Ifyouchoose,youmaysubmityourpresentationtotheDMC’sannualstudentdigitalmediacompetition.Additionalinstructionswillbemadeavailablebythefourthweekofthesemester.ADDENDUMONPOSTERCOST:Forthisprojectyoumaydecidetoprintaposter(postersizesaretraditionally3’x4’).Thepricesforsuchlarge-scaleprintingcanbecost-prohibitive.Therearehoweveranumberofprintingservicesavailableoncampusthatwillprintyourposteratacompetitiveprice.Ihavescoutedoutanumberofthesecampusprintingservices.TheGeographyPrintLabis–byfar–theleastexpensive@$34.50(forone3’x4’poster).DiscussionBoardHistoryisnotsomethingdonebyone’sself.Weallcanearnfromtheuniqueperspectivesandinterpretationswebringtoclass.Therefore,therewillbeadiscussionboardwhereIwillpostaseriesofquestionsabouttheweek’s

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readings.Iaskthatyoumakeone(meaningfulandunique)postperweekforeachdiscussionquestion.Iwillprovideyouwithexamplesof“meaningfulandunique”postsatthebeginningofthesemester.OralPresentationsYou,alongwithtwoclassmates,willmakeonePechaKuchaoralpresentations(short4minutepresentationscomposedof20slides).ThepresentationwillbegiventhesecondweekofclassdiscussingyourinitialunderstandingofEuropeanImperialism.Moreinstructionsandademonstrationwillbegiveninclass.MapQuizWhilethestudyofhistoryismuchmorethanrotememorizationaworkingknowledgeofthepastrequiresafoundationalunderstandingofplacesandlocations.Inweektwoyouwillbegivenashortmapquizcovering*basic*localsimportanttoBritishimperialhistory.Thegradewillbeincorporatedintoyourparticipationgrade.TestsTherewillbetwotestsgiveninthiscourse:amidterm(15%ofyourgrade)andacomprehensivefinalexam(25%ofyourgrade).Theseexamsarenotdesignedtotrickyou,butensureyouarereachingthecourseslearningobjectsandenablemetobetterhelpyouachievethoseobjectives.GradingBreakdownOralpresentations(2x2.5%each) 5%TwoPagePapers(3x3%each) 9%Paperrevisions 15%EightPagePaper 15%Midterm 15%FinalExam 25%ClassAttendanceandParticipation 16%ClassStructure,Organization,andExpectations“Blended”ClassStructureI’veorganizedclassstructuretoaccomplishthefollowinggoals:maximizetheusefulnessofourfacetofacetime,providegreateropportunityforstudentstolearnasacommunity,andbetterenablestudentstolearnattheirownpace.Thereforethiswillbeablendedcourse.Thismeansthatagoodportionoftheweek’slectureswillbeonlineforyoutowatchonyourown,andthatclassparticipationwillalsoinvolveanonlinecomponent(discussionboardsandposts).Face-to-facetimeintheclassroomwillfeatureanabbreviatedlecture(whichwillworkintangentwiththeonlinelecture),smallgroupactivities,andtimetoreflectanddiscussthematerialcoveredinthatweek’sreadings.Iexpectyoutocometoallin-classsessionshavingpreparedallonlinematerial.TwitterTobetterfacilitateparticipationandinteractiontherewillbeaclassTwitteraccountsetupforyoutouseshouldyouhavequestionsorideasyouwouldliketosharewiththeclass,butoutsidetheconfinesofthediscussionforums.InadditionIwillregularlyposttotheaccountthroughoutthesemesterwithclassnewsandupdates.Toparticipateorreceiveclassupdates,pleasefollow#UWHist200.IfyouwishparticipatebutdonotwishtouseyourownpersonalTwitteraccountyoumayusethecourse’sTwitteraccounttomakeposts,Login:UWHistory,Password:IlikeHistory

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Attendance:Thetestsforthiscoursewillbebasedonthecourse-textsandboththeonlineandin-classlectures.Furthermore,onlineandin-classparticipationwillbegraded.Ifyoucan’tcompleteanonlinemoduleorcan’tattendaface-to-facesessionyoumustcometalkwithmeoryourgradewillbenegativelyaffected.Weeks1-2:Introduction:WhatisImperialismandwhatareempires?Whoaretheactorsandwhydidtheyembraceimperialism?

Week1:SettingtheStage(January21,23)CourseIntroduction;geography,historiography,andchallengingthehistorianasunquestionedarbiteroftruthReadings

BurbankandCooper–Chapter1“History,Culture,andText”LynnHunt(Learn@UW)

Week2:(January26,28,30)Settingthestage,introducingtheactors,andjustwhatisanempire?Readings

BurbankandCooper–SelectionsfromChapter6,Chapter9

Friday,January30–PechaKuchapresentations

Weeks3-5:NewImperialismWeek3:(February2,4,6)

1870’s–ANewImperialism?;OpeningofAfrica;RaceandgenderasimperialmotifsReadings BurbankandCooper–Chapter10

SelectionsfromJenniferPitts,ATurntoEmpire(Learn@UW)

Friday,February6–MapQuiz(gradewillbe

incorporatedintoparticipationgrade) Week4:(February9,11,13)

Roundingoutthe19thcentury;EuropeanImperialCulture;SellingtheempireReadings

BurbankandCooper–Chapter11ColonialPoetry(Learn@UW)

Week5:(February16,18,20)

1900s:ACivilizingMission,Colonialscience,Towardsacollision,DeclineReadings

SelectionsfromTilley,AfricaasaLivingLaboratory(Learn@UW)SelectionsfromMitchell,ColonizingEgypt(Learn@UW)Lettersfrompriestsandmissionaries(Learn@UW)

Friday,February20–1sttwo-pagepaperdue

Weeks6-9:ClashofEmpiresWeek6:(February23,25,27)

1910s:ClashofEmpires–understandingWWIasanimperialwar,anditsaftermathinimperialterms(Britain,France,Russia,Germany,Austria);colonialsoldiers;theroleofcolonialcultureandeconomiesinthewarReadings:

BurbankandCooper–Chapter12Friday,February27–2ndtwo-pagepaper

due

Week7:(March2,4,6)1920s:Totheirgreatestextent,theheightofempire–Britain,France;Totaldestruction:Germany,Russia,Austria,theOttomans;questioningmission,civilization,andempireReadings

SelectionsfromMazower,DarkContinentGeorgeOrwell,BurmeseDays

Friday,March6–3rdtwo-pagepaperdue

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Week8:(March9,11,13)1930s:RebirthofGermany’sImperialVision;theReturnofRussia;creatingacolonialmiddleclassReadings

SelectionsfromMazower,DarkContinent:Europe’sTwentiethCenturySelectionsfromHull,AbsoluteDestruction(Learn@UW)

Week9:(March16,18,20)1940s:LastmarchoftheEmpire,Weakness?,Pickingthespoils;EmpirecomestoEuropeReadings

SelectionsfromSnyder,Bloodlands(Learn@UW)

Friday,March20–In-classmidtermexam

Weeks10-12:RethinkingEmpire,RethinkingCollapseWeek10:(March23,25,27)

1940s-1950s:InterpretationsofEmpire,UnravelingofImperialism–holdingonandlettinggo;integratingthecolonyintoEuropeReadings

BurbankandCooper–Chapter13AimeCesaire–DiscourseonColonialism

Monday,March23–1stdraftofeight-pageassignmentdueWednesday,March25–1stdraftrevisionsduebacktopartner

SPRINGBREAK(March28–April5)–NoClassWeek11:(April6,8,10)

1960s:GeneralCollapse,ImperialWelfare,Rethinking“empire”;opposingoppression

ReadingsMoloudFeraoun–ThePoorMan’sSonWednesday,April8–2nddraftofeight-pageassignmentduetopeerreviewer

Week12:(April13,15,17)

1970:EndofEmpire?Wellwho’sgoingtoruleinthecolonies?;Questioningdecolonization;RussiaandAfghanistanReading

SelectionsfromNiallFergusson,EmpireMOVIE:[AvailableonLearn@UW]-TheLastKingofScotlandWednesday,April15–2nddraftrevisionsduebacktopartner

Weeks13-15:Amuchneededre-evaluationWeek13:(April20,22,24)

1970-80s:Settlerminorities,“IslasMalvinas,”ShatteredRemnantsofEmpire;economicandculturalinfluenceReadings

Samson:SettlerMinorities,256-70(Learn@UW)SelectionfromBelichReplenishingtheEarth(Learn@UW)

MOVIE:[AvailableonLearn@UW]–The16thMan,ESPN:30for30Friday,April24–Finaldraftofpaperdue

Week14:(April27,29,May1)1991andbeyond–Arrivingat‘theendofhistory’:BreakupoftheSovietUnion,theUnitingofEurope;EuropeaninfluencetodayReadings

BurbankandCooper:Chapter14Selection from Laurent Dubois,SoccerEmpire(Learn@UW)

Week15:(May4,6,8)

May4–Symposiumpreparation,FinalPosterdueMay6–PosterSymposiumMay8–CourseWrap-up

May9-16Reviewsession:TBA

FinalExam:TBA