Social and Cultural History of Great Britain - An Introduction

Introduction

  • Overview of the social and cultural history of Great Britain.

Course Information

  • Goals:

    • Students will gain knowledge about the history of Great Britain.

    • Study will be chronological to understand historical complexity.

    • Emphasis on discussion to enhance analytical skills.

    • Ability to apply knowledge to other historical contexts.

  • Lecturers:

    • Petr Kopecký: Petr.Kopecky@osu.cz

    • Jiří Lukl: Jiri.Lukl@osu.cz (Office hours: Tue 10–11)

Course Syllabus

  • Major topics covered include:

    • Introduction

    • Prehistoric Britain and Roman Britain

    • Anglo-Saxon Britain

    • Britain in the Middle Ages

    • Early Modern Britain

    • Georgian Britain

    • Industrial Revolution

    • Victorian Britain

    • Victorian Foreign Policy and the Empire

    • The Welfare State and the World Wars

    • Post-War Britain

    • Multiculturalism and Devolution in the United Kingdom

Literature for the Course

  • Main Text:

    • DARGIE, Richard. The History of Britain: From Neolithic Times to the 21st Century. London: Arcturus, 2018.

  • Recommended Texts:

    • MARR, Andrew. A History of Modern Britain. London: Pan Books, 2017.

    • MCDOWALL, D. An Illustrated History of Britain. London: Longman, 1991.

    • FERGUSON, N. Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power. London: Basic Books, 2004.

    • LOWE, N. Mastering Modern British History. London: Palgrave, 2017.

    • MORRIS, Marc. The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England (410-1066). Pegasus Books, 2021.

Course Requirements

  • Attendance: 80% required (allowed to miss 2 classes).

  • Participation: Active engagement in class discussions.

  • Self-study: Reading materials and completing assigned tasks.

  • Assessment: Written exam with a 50% pass/fail line.

Opening Questions

  • Importance of setting aside modern assumptions for understanding historical contexts:

    • Consider perceptions of time, movement, social circles, and moral constructs in historical settings.

  • Reflect on how these perceptions might differ 1000 years ago.

Common Human Experiences Across Time

  • Human nature similarities:

    • Enjoyment through games, parties, and food.

    • Desire for fashion and beauty.

    • Engagement in social dynamics (gossip and in/out-group behaviors).

    • Emotional experiences like love, hate, envy, and ambition.

    • The need for narrative explanations for uncontrollable events.

    • Limited perspectives influenced by societal contexts.

Historical Anecdotes

  • King Eadwig (955–959)

    • Example of royal behavior indicating societal norms, taken from contemporaneous accounts.

  • Archbishop Wulfstan's 'Sermo Lupi ad Anglos' (c. 1010)

    • Conveys that the English faced divine punishment for their sins.

Critique of Sources

  • Emphasizes the importance of analyzing and critiquing historical sources to understand historical narratives.

Global Historical Overview

  • Timeline Overview:

    • Prehistory to 43 CE: Roman Britain established 43 CE - 410 CE.

    • Anglo-Saxon Britain: Mid-5th century to 1066 CE.

    • Norman and Plantagenet eras: 1066 - 1485.

    • Tudor reign: 1485 - 1603.

    • Stuart reign: 1603 - 1714.

    • Georgian era: 1714 - 1830/37.

    • Victorian era: 1837 - 1901.

    • Modern periods: 20th and 21st centuries, including significant events and transformations in British society.