• Develop introductory understanding of key events in modern European history.
• Analyse modern European imperialism through a variety of themes, including:
  • War, violence and invasion;
  • Trade, missions and empires;
  • Cultural encounters and exchanges;
  • Territorial ‘discovery’, expansion and colonisation.
• Gain experience in analysing a variety of primary sources recorded by Europeans and First Peoples.

The course is three weeks long; each week is organised chronologically:

• Week 1: The Rise of Europe. We trace Europe’s rise from a comparatively insular and isolated continent in the Middle Ages to the very beginnings of its colonial empires in the early modern period.
• Week 2: Global Exploration. We take a closer look at the extensive overseas exploration of Portugal and Spain.
• Week 3: The Conquest of Latin America. We examine in detail the invasion of the Aztec Empire. We consider the views of Europeans and First Peoples in our discussion.