History

Global History from the Global South

Module code: V1376
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar, Lecture
Assessment modes: Take away paper

Global History seeks to understand historical processes that transcend national and regional spaces. It also sets out to challenge some of the longstanding eurocentric assumptions and narratives of western historical research.

On this module you will explore global history from a “global south” perspective, examining processes of global interaction from the perspective of societies in the majority world: Africa, Asia and Latin America. Following introductory topics on the theories and methodologies of global history, you will look at case studies from various regions as examples of how societies in the global south have shaped and experienced processes of global integration.

Chronologically, the focus is on the 19th and 20th centuries, and major themes include revolution, diaspora, religion and environment. All topics give voice to writers and thinkers from the regions under study. In the final week of the module you will work collaboratively to devise your own topic as an exercise in decolonising history curricula.

Module learning outcomes

• Relate the emergence of one or more aspects of global experience over the long term, applied to the notion of the global south.
• Reflect on the changes within one or more areas of global experience over time, applied to the notion of the global south.
• Appreciate the contested methodologies and theories of global history, with particular reference to calls to decolonise history curricula.
• Critically evaluate the field of global history, and communicate information and arguments using case studies of global historical phenomena.