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HIST298: Prejudice: nation, minorities and identity in early-modern Europe

The module gives a broad thematic overview of issues of identity, focused on attachment or otherwise to a national ethos in the period of European state-formation and state-building. It concentrates on three territorial areas which constituted 'multiple kingdoms' in the 16th and 17th centuries: the islands of the British Isles and Ireland; Spain; and the Swedish kingdom. This was the period of religious upheaval and therefore the course allows one to chart the acculturation and exclusion of religious minorities and the adoption of state-religions; it was a period of warfare and revolution giving birth to the modern notion of state and its control of people through marking boundaries to delineate its areas of allegiance and jurisdiction. Throughout the module, as well as being introduced to the key historiographical debates, students will be encouraged to explore the subject through a wide range of primary sources, including state papers, legal records, images, renaissance literature, accounts of exploration and travel.

The module may be studied together with HIST299, or on its own. It is taught by means of 2 lectures a week and 5 fortnightly seminars. It is taught thematically rather than chronologically. Key themes may include:

• The ‘New British History’
• Religion, faith and belief (Protestant Reformation, Catholic Reformation, Islam, Animism)
• Ireland (1550-1700)
• The Unification of Spain
• Moriscos in Spain
• Sweden, state and war
• The Saami
• ‘Tribalism’ - its applicability in e-m Europe
• National identity and exclusion
• Colonialism

The module also provides grounding for further exploration of colonialism at special subject or postgraduate level.

For further information on HIST298 visit the Lancaster University Online Courses Handbook.

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