Revolutions in World History module (HY11004)

In this module you will study the concept of 'Revolution' through a string of historical events that we usually label as 'Revolutions'. But what does this mean? What defines a revolution and who decides which events should be classified as such? 

This module focuses on the French Revolution, the revolutionary movements spinning off from the French Revolution, and its connections to communist revolutions in Russia and China in the 20th century. In this module we will also discuss the political and ideological significance of describing an event as a revolution, and how the meaning of this concept has changed across more than two centuries. 

We will look at theories of revolution, as social scientists have tried to identify key features thought to characterise revolutions. Understanding these theories is crucial because they shape interpretations of past revolutions by historians and politicians. These interpretations also aim to predict the beginning, progression, and legacies of revolutions.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• explore theories and definitions of revolutions through the study of selected revolutions
• examine the global impact of revolutions and revolutionary ideologies
• develop an understanding of the problems of historical sources and methodology and introduce students to historiography
• engage with conflicting historiographical debates about causes and consequences of highly complex revolutionary events

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• critically assess theoretical and ideological claims about the 'purpose' or 'mission' of specific revolutions
• contextualise ideologically driven interpretations from non-ideological analyses of events, causes, and consequences linked to the revolutions under investigation
• understand how different historians approach the study of revolutions 

Assignments / assessment

• Module Portfolio - 60% (3500 words)
  • you will submit a draft module entry every 2 weeks. These relate to the topics studied in lectures and tutorials. By week 8 you submit the final version of your four module entries with introduction and conclusion. The first module entry will be commented on by your tutor and the three other drafts will be subject to anonymous student peer review
• Written Exam - 40%. This is a two-hour exam in three parts testing both your knowledge and your ability to reflect upon abstract concepts

Teaching methods / timetable

• Lectures on weekly topics
  • each week there will be two lectures by a member of the History staff who is a specialist on that particular topic
• Weekly Tutorials
  • You will be allocated a tutorial group of up to 25 students to discuss the main themes relating to that week's topic 
• Field Trips and Excursions 
  • In some weeks there will be field trips, city walks, and excursions to museums and archives. These are not compulsory, but allow you to experience how the revolutions studied for this module are reflected in Dundee through buildings, artefacts, cityscapes and documents produced by local Dundonians