An opportunity is offered in this subject to study empire-building and freedom-fighting as aspects of the historical processes of imperialism; and so to extend knowledge of European history to other continents and other civilizations.

Consideration of the rise and fall of empires and the flight of phoenix nations from the ruins during the past century and a half, is divided into two parts: the one invites broad analysis of the European and extra-European foundations of empire in the light of existing theories of imperialism and ‘orientalism’. The other requires closer study of the working of European expansion within the societies of a particular region, in the light of theories about indigenous collaboration and resistance, anti-imperial nationalism and decolonization.

Some ideas which unify this field of study and provide tools for an analysis are outlined in two articles: J. Gallagher and R. Robinson: ‘The Imperialism of Free Trade’, Economic History Review, March 1953; R. Robinson: ‘Non-European Foundations of European Empire’, in R. Owen and B. Sutcliffe (eds.): Studies in the Theory of Imperialism (1971).

In the examination candidates will be expected to illustrate their answers from the documents prescribed; but compulsory passages for comment will not be set. They will be expected to answer at least one question on theoretical explanations of the broad pattern of colonization and intervention overseas. For the rest they will be free to choose questions of a general or a regional character.

For the purposes of the second part, those who read this subject may choose one of the following topics for particular study:

(a) South Asia, 1885-1947

(b) Sub-Saharan Africa c.1870-1980

(c) Britain’s settler colonies, 1830-1939

(d) Maritime South East Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, 1830-1975

(e) Themes in the History of Slavery and Abolition