Unit information: Benevolent Britannia? Humanitarianism and the British Empire (Level C Special Topic) in 2012/13

Unit name	Benevolent Britannia? Humanitarianism and the British Empire (Level C Special Topic)
Unit code	HIST10018
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Loffman
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	HIST13003
School/department	Department of History (Historical Studies)
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Special Topic units place students in direct contact with the research interests of academic tutors and allow them to explore issues surrounding the current state of research in the field. They introduce students to working with primary sources and place those sources in context.

This particular unit builds upon many of the themes explored in the first year Introduction to the History of the British Empire unit. It seeks to offer a more nuanced account of British colonialism, and demonstrate the multiplicity of colonial actions and attitudes encompassed by the British Empire. It introduces several key debates which are taken up by second year units. There are a number of primary sources, or important historiographical debates, associated with each seminar which will provide springboards for first year Special Projects.

Like the Introduction to the History of the British Empire unit it covers a broad chronological and geographical sweep. Seminars predominantly focus on the nineteenth century, through the final session seeks to chart the legacies of empire in the years after 1918. For the sake of simplicity, however, the seminars addressing missionary efforts, attitudes to children and famine will focus primarily on Australia and India.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit students should have:

• identified, analysed, and deepened their understanding of the significance of key themes relevant to humanitarianism in the British Empire
• understood the historiographical debates that surround the topic
• learned how to work with primary sources
• developed their skills in contributing to and learning from discussion in a small-group environment

Teaching Information

Weekly 2-hour seminar Access to tutorial consultation with unit tutor in office hours

Assessment Information

2-hour unseen written examination (summative, 100%)

The examination will assess their understanding of the unit’s key themes, the related historiography as developed during their reading and participation in / learning from small group seminars, and relevant primary sources. Further assessment of their handling of the relevant primary sources will be provided by the co-requisite Special Topic Project (HIST 13003)

Reading and References

• Andrew Porter, ‘Trusteeship, anti-slavery and humanitarianism’, in Andrew Porter (ed.) The Oxford History of the British Empire, volume 3, (Oxford, 1999), pp. 198-221
• Lester, A. and D. Lambert, 'Geographies of Colonial Philanthropy', Progress in Human Geography, 28, 3, (2004), 320-341
• Gilbert, H. and C. Tiffin (eds.) Burden or Benefit: Imperial Benevolence and its Legacies, (Indiana 2008)