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HIST42830: The Wealth of Nations

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Open
Level 4
Credits 30
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department History

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • to enable students to gain an advanced understanding of debates and approaches in economic and social history, focusing on Britain and Europe from the middle ages to the modern period.

Content

  • This module introduces students to the historical debates on a range of problems and topics including: the medieval to early modern transition; commercialisation; demography; industrialisation and the industrial revolution; towns and the countryside; standards of living; debt, credit & finance. Students will be able to focus on one or more of these topics in their coursework, but will be expected to engage with the full range through oral presentations and discussion.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • advanced knowledge and understanding of debates and approaches in the economic and social history of Britain and Europe.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Subject specific skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/PGModuleProformaMap/

Key Skills:

  • Key skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/PGModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Student learning is facilitated by a range of teaching methods.
  • Seminars and Group Discussion require students to reflect on and discuss: their prior knowledge and experience; set reading of secondary and, where appropriate, primary readings; information provided during the session. They provide a forum in which to assess and comment critically on the findings of others, defend their conclusions in a reasoned setting, and advance their knowledge and understanding of the social and economic history of Britain and Europe from the middle ages.
  • Structured reading requires students to focus on set materials integral to the knowledge and understanding of the module. It specifically enables the acquisition of detailed knowledge and skills which will be discussed in other areas of the teaching and learning experience.
  • Assessment is by means of a 5000 word essay which requires the acquisition and application of advanced knowledge and understanding of an aspect of the social and economic history of Britain and/or Europe. Essays require a sustained and coherent argument in defence of a hypothesis, and must be presented in a clearly written and structured form, and with appropriate apparatus.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
seminars 8weekly2 hours16 
discussion groups2two a term2 hours4 
structured reading and essay preparation280 
TOTAL300 

Summative Assessment

Component: EssayComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Essay5000 words100 

Formative Assessment

One or more short assignments delivered orally and discussed in a group context.

More information

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our Help page. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the Help page, or a query about the on-line Postgraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.