History 6395 Fall 1995

Readings in Imperialism

Instructor Karl Ittmann

Office 560 AH, ext 743-3102

Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:30pm, Wednesday 11am-12pm and by appointment.

This course will examine recent work on the history of imperialism. The following topics will form the basis of the class reading:

1) Theories of imperialism

2) The creation of Europe as a cultural, social and economic area and the related process of creating a non-European "other".

3) The process of western expansion from 1500-1800 and its consequences.

4) The role of various western powers in the process of imperialism.

5) The social and cultural impact of imperialism upon the conquered and the conquers.

Course Requirements: An in-class presentation, a 5-7 page review essay of a book, and an historiographic essay on a topic in imperialism 15-25 pages in length.

Required Texts

Michael Adas, Islamic and Europeam Expansion

Robert Bartlett, Before Europe-

Cain and Hopkins, British Imperialism: Innovation and Expansion 1688-1914

Alfred Crosby, Ecological Imperialism

Ronald Hyam Empire and Sexuality

Henrika Kuklick, The Savage Within

Herman Lebovics True France

Abu Ligoud, Before European Hegemony

R. Mackenzie, Propaganda and Empire

Wolfgang Mommensen, Theories of Imperialism

Louis Perez, Cuba Under the Platt Amendment 1902-1934,

Edward Said, Orientalism

Kirkpatrick Sale, Conquest of Paradise

Eric Wolf, Europe and the People Without History

In addition, there will be a number of articles assigned for each week.

Schedule of Classes

Week 1 September 6 Theories of Imperialism

Wolfgang Mommensen, Theories of Imperialism

Week 2 September 13 Europe Before Expansion

Robert Bartlett, Before Europe-

Week 3 September 20 The World System Prior to 1500

Abu Ligoud, Before European Hegemony

Week 4 September 27 The Discovery of the New World

Kirkpatrick Sale, Conquest of Paradise

Week 5 October 4 The Consequences of Discovery

Alfred Crosby, Ecological Imperialism

Week 6 October 11 The World System Before 1800

Eric Wolf, Europe and the People Without History

Week 7 October 18 The British Empire

Cain and Hopkins, British Imperialism: Innovation and Expansion 1688-1914

Week 8 October 25 The United States and Empire

Louis Perez, Cuba Under the Platt Amendment 1902-1934,

Week 9 November 1 Imperialism and Culture Part I

Edward Said, Orientalism

Week 10 November 8 Imperialism and Sexuality

Ronald Hyam Empire and Sexuality

Week 11 November 15 Imperialism and Culture Part II

R. Mackenzie, Propaganda and Empire

Week 12 November 22 Imperialism and Culture Part III

Herman Lebovics True France

Week 13 November 29 Science and Empire

Henrika Kuklick, The Savage Within

Week 14 December 6 Presentations