History

Course summary

Germany and West Germany, 1918 – 89 (30%) The focus of this breadth study is on development and change and so the content is presented as themes spanning the period in question. This option also contains a study in depth of historical interpretations on how far Hitler’s foreign policy was responsible for the Second World War. The themes we study are: • Political and governmental change, 1918–89 • Opposition, control and consent, 1918–89 • Economic development and policies, 1918–89 • Aspects of life in Germany and West Germany, 1918–89 The rise and fall of fascism in Italy, c1911–46 (20%) Our depth study on Italy covers: • The liberal state, c1911–18 • The rise of Mussolini and the creation of a fascist dictatorship, 1919–26 • The fascist state, 1925–40 • Challenges to, and the fall of, the fascist state, c1935–46 The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 (30%) This option comprises of two parts: the aspects in breadth focus on long-term changes and contextualise the aspects in depth, which focus in detail on key episodes. Together, they explore the British experience of war in different aspects of major overseas conflicts and the changing relationship between the state and the people. Within the primarily military focus on the experience of warfare, this option also gives students the opportunity to explore its political, social and economic dimensions and their part in generating pressure for change. Aspects in breadth: the changing role of government in preparing the nation for war, c1790 – 1918 • Changes in organising the military • Changes in the role of the people Aspects in depth: Britain at war overseas • Britain and the French Wars, 1793– 1815 • The Crimean War, 1854–56 • The second Boer War, 1899–1902 • Trench warfare on the Western Front, 1914–18 • The war in the air, 1914–18