The course will encourage you to develop intellectual and practical familiarity with advanced research in the global history of the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Australasia and the Americas (excluding the US). Global and imperial history in this context implies transoceanic and transcontinental connections, comparisons, and exchanges between cultures, polities and societies. It also examines broad patterns and systems in history, whether religious, political, economic, cultural or ecological.
Global history, in other words, is history with a global scope (often including European dimensions) that emphasises comparative perspectives. You are not expected to master the histories of multiple regions, but to use a global approach to cast light on your own research area.
Please note that pre-modern study of Asia and the Middle East is covered by the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
Course Organisation
The programme consists of:
Core Courses
Concepts and Themes in Global and Imperial History
Anyone reading an historical account of the rise and impact of empire will be struck by the way that certain key ideas and arguments frame the discussion. The fact that the role of imperialism and colonialism in world history has been intensely controversial has made the meaning of the terms used to describe them all the more contested.
This course is designed to encourage debate and discussion of some of the key concepts in global and imperial history including ‘race’, ‘class’, ‘nationalism’, ‘Orientalism’, and ‘imperialism’ itself.
Option Courses
Students take one option paper in Hilary term, giving the opportunity for further in-depth study. Options are chosen in Michaelmas term and there is a limit on places.
Recent choices are listed below, please note that not every option will be available each year.
Dissertation
A dissertation of up to 15,000 words on an agreed topic. The dissertation is submitted during Trinity Term, but students will begin to formulate and plan their dissertation in conjunction with their supervisors from the beginning of the course.
Please also explore the Oxford China Centre for further information.