History

This course surveys the history and philosophy of science and its relation to technology and society. Students examine major topics and readings in the field including the scientific revolution, experimental science, industrialization, probabilistic theory, and environmental science, keeping in mind the broader historical circumstances that have shaped these forces. Key concepts include: scientific norms, paradigm shifts and technoscience. Students encounter historical and contemporary case studies various regions and countries.

The course covers the historical evolution of the French language from its Romance origins to the present day. Examines both internal linguistic change and external historical, political, and cultural influences. The course also considers the expansion of French beyond Europe, contact with other languages and creoles, and modern linguistic perspectives on French in the 21st century.

This course explores key concepts in European political thought in the 17th century. Natural law, the state of nature, state sovereignty and the social contract are just some of the themes which are studied. The focus is on a close reading of the major works by Hobbes, Pufendorf, and Locke, as well as examining the relationship of these authors.

What impact does war have on changing societal norms, such as sexual behaviour and the roles and status of women? How have societies altered the conduct of war, through the mobilization of resources or the persecution of minorities, for example? This course addresses these questions, exploring the dynamic relationship between culture, conflict and change to fully explore people at war. Through both a thematic and case study approach, it draws on a wide range of historic and contemporary conflicts to investigate the destructive and transformative power of conflict on social, cultural, and political life, as well as the ways that societies shape the motives, methods, and constraints of conflict. 

In the period covered by this course, from 1871 to the present, interactions between Gentiles and Jews in Germany underwent a dramatic and unprecedented set of upheavals. What were the main problems, struggles and achievements in this period of German-Jewish history? This course initially focuses on debating the chances and limits of emancipation and assimilation of Jews in Imperial Germany and on discussing the so-called Jewish Renaissance in the Weimar Republic. A survey of the expansion and the role of antisemitism and its political manifestations in German society will provide a platform for studying the Nazi take-over of power and the Holocaust. The course concludes with the post-war history of Jews in Germany, addressing contemporary challenges such as the integration of Russian-speaking Jews and the future of German Jewry. Students consider the ethical questions that arise when approaching a challenging area of historical enquiry, and learn to identify information needs appropriate to different situations. 

The course introduces students to selected topics in the legal application of medical scientific expertise. Through a historical perspective, students learn about the historical development and application of forensic investigation techniques such as toxicology, psychiatry, crime scene investigation and DNA profiling, and how they were presented to the public in various media (e.g. detective fiction, newspaper reports, forensic television dramas). Students consider who makes claims to forensic truth and what tools and techniques they use to arrive at that conclusion.

This class introduces students to the process of conducting research on historical topics. Students discuss and critique examples of publishable research and work independently to develop their own topics and interests. Students explore different methods and approaches of historical inquiry, learn how to identify, access, and use records in the archives and in digital humanities, and produce research on their own. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course offers a broad survey on Modern European political, intellectual, social, and cultural history, from the end of the 18th century to the aftermath of the Cold War. The topics covered include the age of Revolutions (the French Revolution and its consequences, the Napoleonic era, the Industrial Revolution), the age of Nationalism, the age of Imperialism and Colonialism, World War I and II and the Cold War.

Taught by numerous site visits to historic buildings alongside lectures and seminars, this course introduces students to the study of architecture by exploring buildings in the London area from the start of the 17th century to the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. During the course, students witness London burn to the ground, be comprehensively rebuilt, and then expand from a small European capital into the largest city in the world. Along the way, students encounter a wide variety of buildings including cathedrals, palaces, churches, synagogues, breweries, shops, and hospitals. Students acquire skills in looking at, reading, and understanding buildings and become adept at using them as historical evidence. Students also learn how to relate architecture to its social, political, and intellectual context, and develop insights into the ways that buildings may carry and convey meaning, whether to an expert or to a more general audience. No prior knowledge of architecture or architectural history is required to undertake the module. When timetabling, allow yourself an hour's travel time either side of the class for site visits.

The Spanish Civil War is one of the iconic events of the 1930s, capturing the attention of the world from its outbreak in July 1936. But the conflict was also deeply embedded in the broader history of its era, not just as a prelude to the Second World War but also as a reflection of deeper patterns of imperialism and anti-colonialism, internationalism, social conflict, religious belief and political violence. This course explores the uniquely Spanish features and origins of the conflict, but also asks how the Spanish Civil War can help us to understand the global interwar crisis in all its dimensions.