Last modified: 01 Aug 2023 11:46
The nationalisation of military service during the long nineteenth century diversified the relationship between armed forces and civil societies: across Europe, men volunteered to serve as ‘citizens in uniform’, sailor suits became a fashionable dress for boys and girls, and charitable women supported new institutions like the international Red Cross, designed to alleviate the suffering of soldiers and civilians affected by war. This cultural history course is interested in how military service and warfare touched the lives of ordinary people in varied and complex ways.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The seminar-based course explores interactions between military and civilian spheres in Europe across the long nineteenth century. It introduces recent methodologies historians apply to understand the cultural history of warfare, for example visual and sound history, material culture, and human-animal studies. We will critically discuss concepts and terminology, including the ‘professionalisation’ and ‘industrialisation’ of warfare and the ‘nationalisation’ and ‘militarisation’ of societies. In three thematic sections, seminars address various scenarios of civilian and military interaction in peace and war: the first theme ‘Peace’ will introduce you to daily encounters between citizens and soldiers in a garrison town, drafting and volunteering for military service, training of recruited soldiers and how questions of army reform touched upon civilian lives. The second theme ‘War’ will focus on campaigns and the battlefield: how did warfare affect civilian lives on all sides? You will learn about experiences of refugees and how the devastating effects of bombings made headlines in the printed press, but we will also follow civilians caring for and accompanying soldiers. How did army commands prepare their troops for encounters with foreign cultures, and how did governments explain to families what their fathers, brothers and sons were fighting for? The last theme ‘Ending War’ will discuss aspects of peace-making, including experiences of occupation and encounters between prisoners of war and civilians. You will also learn about leaving the army: what problems occurred when armies were dissolved, and veterans reintegrated into society? How present were military cultures in everyday lives? Finally, how was the war experience of civilian suffering, sacrifice, or heroism commemorated?
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
A gobbet exercise is a concise analytical comment on an extract from a primary source. It is an exercise in de-construction, aimed at extracting the maximum historical understanding from the text provided. Students will provide a gobbet response to one of the sources available in a primary source pack. Feedback will be provided online through MyAberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | To critically appraise and effectively utilise relevant primary and secondary source materials and to discuss and compare results of historical analysis. |
| Reflection | Create | To develop and refine skills of verbal and written expression and organisation through presentations, assessments and the resultant feedback from staff. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Students will create the essay on a topic chosen in consultation with course co-ordinator. Feedback will be provided online through MyAberdeen |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | To acquire greater insight into the problems of conducting historical study, including an understanding of historical concepts and methodologies. |
| Factual | Understand | To gain a better understanding of the complexities of warfare as a historical phenomenon and to reflect on its relevance today. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To critically appraise and effectively utilise relevant primary and secondary source materials and to discuss and compare results of historical analysis. |
| Reflection | Create | To develop and refine skills of verbal and written expression and organisation through presentations, assessments and the resultant feedback from staff. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Students will contribute to a course conference by commenting on their essay project (5 minutes presentation + 5 minutes Q&A = 10 minutes), by chairing / moderating discussion (10 minutes), and by responding to other students' contributions and presentations. The presentations will be recorded, and power point presentations submitted and assessed. Feedback will be provided online via MyAberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | To acquire greater insight into the problems of conducting historical study, including an understanding of historical concepts and methodologies. |
| Reflection | Create | To develop and refine skills of verbal and written expression and organisation through presentations, assessments and the resultant feedback from staff. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Students will provide a gobbet response to one of the sources available in a primary source pack. Feedback will be provided online through MyAberdeen. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Students will create the essay on a topic chosen in consultation with course co-ordinator. Feedback will be provided online through MyAberdeen. |
Word Count | ||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | To gain a better understanding of the complexities of warfare as a historical phenomenon and to reflect on its relevance today. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To critically appraise and effectively utilise relevant primary and secondary source materials and to discuss and compare results of historical analysis. |
| Conceptual | Apply | To acquire greater insight into the problems of conducting historical study, including an understanding of historical concepts and methodologies. |
| Reflection | Create | To develop and refine skills of verbal and written expression and organisation through presentations, assessments and the resultant feedback from staff. |
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