MVZ439 The British Empire 1763-1997

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2013
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Vladimír Černý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, 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 10:00–11:40 P21
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 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40
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.
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
  • 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
  • NERAD, Filip. Búrská válka. Praha: Aleš Skřivan ml, 2004, 232 s. ISBN 808649313X. info
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Čas soumraku : rozpad koloniálních impérií po druhé světové válce. Vyd. 1. Praha: Triton, 2004, 199 s. ISBN 8072544950. info
  • FERRO, Marc. Dějiny kolonizací : od dobývání po nezávislost 13.-20. století. Vyd. 1. Praha: NLN Nakladatelství lidové noviny, 2007, 503 s. ISBN 9788071060215. info
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J.: The Colonial Wars Source Book. London, Arms and Armour 1997. ISBN 1-85409-436-X.
  • 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
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Koncert velmocí : mezinárodní vztahy v letech 1871-1914. Vyd. 1. Praha: Triton, 2006, 254 s. ISBN 8072547631. URL info
  • Lloyd, Trevor Owen: The British Empire 1558-1995. Oxford University Press 1996. ISBN 0-19-873133-7.
  • Oxfordský průvodce britskou politikou 20. století. Edited by John Ramsden. Czech ed. Praha: Prostor, 2006, 944 s. ISBN 8072601695. info
  • Pearce, Malcolm - Stewart, Geoffrey: British Political History 1867-2001. Democracy and Decline. London, Routledge 2001. ISBN 978-0-415-26869-1.
  • 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
  • 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
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2013, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2013/MVZ439