MVZn5039 The British Empire 1763-1997

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Vladimír Černý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Mgr. Adriana Ilavská, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Vladimír Černý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 13. 9. 16:00–17:40 U53, Tue 20. 9. 16:00–17:40 U41, Tue 27. 9. 16:00–17:40 U41, Tue 4. 10. 16:00–17:40 U41, Tue 11. 10. 16:00–17:40 U41, Tue 18. 10. 16:00–17:40 U41, Tue 25. 10. 16:00–17:40 U53, Tue 1. 11. 16:00–17:40 U53, Tue 8. 11. 16:00–17:40 U53, Tue 15. 11. 16:00–17:40 U53, Tue 22. 11. 16:00–17:40 U43, Tue 29. 11. 16:00–17:40 U53, Tue 6. 12. 16:00–17:40 U53
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! MVZ439 The British Empire 1763-1997 && !NOW( MVZ439 The British Empire 1763-1997 )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 1/25, only registered: 1/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course is focused on the development of the British Empire from the conclusion of the Paris Peace Treaty of 1763 till the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997. During the course, students will gain the ability to analyze main political, military, social and economical processes that affected the changes of the British colonial empire and to evaluate their impact on its gradual downfall. Students will also gain the opportunity to practise working with both foreign and Czech literature and to improve their presentation skills during the preparation and presentation of their paper.
Learning outcomes
In the course, students will gain the ability to analyze main political, military, social and economical processes that affected the changes of the British colonial empire and to evaluate their impact on its gradual downfall.
Syllabus
  • 1. An introduction to the topic, the definion of the terms "empire" and "imperialism".
  • 2. The British Empire after the Seven Year's War and the American Revolution.
  • 3. The development during the Napoleonic wars, the role of the army in attaining lands and invasions.
  • 4. Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
  • 5. The British rule in India.
  • 6. Britain and the "Race for the Division of Africa".
  • 7. The establishment of the first dominions and the question of the imperial unity.
  • 8. The economy of the Empire.
  • 9. The Empire at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; the Boer War.
  • 10. The WW I in 1914-1918 and its influence on the changes of the Empire.
  • 11. The colonial politics and the beginnings of the downfall of the Empire between the Wars; the mandate territories.
  • 12. The decline of the Empire after 1945.
  • 13. The establishment, function and role of the Commonwealth.
Literature
    required literature
  • FAJMON, Hynek. Británie po roce 1945 : od druhé světové války k brexitu. První vydání. Brno: Books & Pipes, 2021, 492 stran. ISBN 9788074852152. info
  • FERGUSON, Niall. Britské impérium : cesta k modernímu světu. Translated by Rudolf Chalupský. V českém jazyce vydání p. Praha: Prostor, 2007, 422 stran. ISBN 9788072601752. info
  • JUDD, Denis. Impérium : britská imperiální zkušenost od roku 1765 do současnosti. Translated by Zdeněk Hron. 1. vyd. Praha: BB art, 1999, 507 s. ISBN 8072570463. info
  • KENNEDY, Paul. Vzestup a pád velmocí :ekonomické změny a vojenské konflikty v letech 1500-2000. Praha: Lidové noviny, 1996, 806 s. ISBN 80-7106-173-5. info
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Čas soumraku : rozpad koloniálních impérií po druhé světové válce. Vyd. 1. Praha: Triton, 2004, 199 s. ISBN 8072544950. info
    recommended literature
  • FERRO, Marc. Dějiny kolonizací : od dobývání po nezávislost 13.-20. století. Vyd. 1. Praha: NLN Nakladatelství lidové noviny, 2007, 503 s. ISBN 9788071060215. info
  • LLOYD, T. O. The British empire 1558-1995. 2. edit. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996, xii, 455 s. ISBN 0-19-873133-7. info
  • Media and the British Empire. Edited by Chandrika Kaul. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006, xv, 266. ISBN 1403948828. info
  • NERAD, Filip. Búrská válka. Praha: Aleš Skřivan ml, 2004, 232 s. ISBN 808649313X. info
  • Pearce, Malcolm - Stewart, Geoffrey: British Political History 1867-2001. Democracy and Decline. London, Routledge 2001. ISBN 978-0-415-26869-1.
  • ŠANC, David and Marek ŽENÍŠEK. Commonwealth : z perspektivy politické vědy. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2008, 219 s. ISBN 9788073801465. info
  • The ideological origins of the British Empire. Edited by David Armitage. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000, xi, 239 p. ISBN 0521590817. info
  • VALKOUN, Jaroslav. Na cestě k Westminsterskému statutu : Velká Británie, dominia a proměna Britského impéria v letech 1907-1931. Vydání první. Praha: Filozofická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, 2015, 307 stran. ISBN 9788073085575. info
  • WANNER, Michal. Zrození impéria : východoindická společnost a britský stát, (1600-1773). Praha: Dokořán, 2003, 338 s. ISBN 8086569217. info
Teaching methods
The course is carried out by the combination of lectures and seminars. Emphasis is put on active participation. Part of the class are presentations by students which aim to improve students' work with literature and their presentation skills.
Assessment methods
The classification will evaluate attendance which will be proved by signatures on the attendance lists. The students will also have to write an seminar essay on one of the set topics. The final exam will be in form of a written test examining the students' elementary knowledge of the subject. Overall assessment is composed of the final examination (40 points), midterm written examination (10 points) and seminar essay (10 points). To successfully complete the course, students have to achieve at least 40 points.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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