Empire: the Controversies of British Imperialism

Explore the British Empire through six controversial themes

Over six weeks, we’ll explore the British Empire through six themes - money, violence, race, religion, gender and sex, and propaganda. You’ll get to hear the stories of the fascinating individuals who contributed to both its rise and fall.

Along the way, you’ll be able to debate the questions these themes raise with learners from around the world, and draw your own conclusions.

You can start to explore the Empire and find out more about the Centre for Imperial and Global History on its blog, Imperial & Global Forum, or by following @ExeterCIGH on Twitter.

This course is intended for anyone with an interest in imperial history. It doesn’t require any reading before you start or previous experience of studying the subject.

• Money
• Week 1: welcome to the British Empire
• A journey through the rise and fall of the British Empire
• Money
• Week 1: concluding comments
• Violence
• Week 2: welcome
• Are empires intrinsically violent systems of social order?
• Violence in the British Empire
• Colonial Air Policing
• Week 2: concluding comments
• Race and religion
• Week 3: welcome
• Race
• Religion
• Week 3: concluding comments
• Sex and gender
• Week 4: welcome
• Gender
• Revealing the connections: gender, colonial power and dress
• Sex
• Week 4: concluding comments
• Propaganda
• Week 5: welcome
• Imperial literary culture
• Imperial visual culture
• Exploring propaganda
• Week 5: concluding comments
• Power
• Week 6: welcome
• Collaboration and globalisation
• The end of Empire
• Assignment: the legacy of the British Empire
• Week 6: concluding comments