Histories and memories of empire
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: HWH75
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Most nations with significant international influence, a large stake in the international arms trade and the strongest economies today were imperial powers in the not-too-distant past. However, their imperial pasts are remembered very differently to the bigger part of the world that fought imperial different forms of domination.
This course introduces you to how the different communities and populations around the world remember and live with their imperial pasts.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- Session 1: Introduction & Memory as dynamic, social and conflicted
- Session 2: Former European colonies remembering and former European imperial and colonial powers forgetting?
- Session 3: Souring neighbourly relations? The conflicted histories and memories of the Japanese empire
- Session 4: Imperial past or present? The Russian and Soviet empires
- Session 5: How do the US and China fit in? How to remember the (imperial?) present?
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- describe the major features of the global history of empire
- understand and discuss memory as dynamic, social and conflicted
- assess and discuss the ways in which different societies remember or forget their imperial pasts and how it plays into contemporary society and politics.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course and no prior knowledge of the topic is required. A willingness to engage with the topic and contribute to discussions is all that is required.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught via interactive lectures, class discussions and debates. Google Classroom will be available with optional book reading and articles if you wish to further your knowledge. Further reading is encouraged to help you to get the most out of the course but it is not mandatory.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs, but you may wish to bring pen and paper, or the digital equivalents,.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please explore our history courses for our autumn offerings.
Martin Ottovay Jorgensen is a historian by education (BA, MA and PhD in Denmark and Belgium). Overall, his research focuses on how forms of international cooperation were new international undertakings but also reflected deeper imperial practices that lingered on long after decolonization in various ways. As a university teacher, he has taught courses on world and global history; imperial and colonial history; the history of international organisations; peace and conflict; global issues and international relations as well as how memory is an active dimension in community-building, society, politics, international relations, conflict as well as corporate branding. Perhaps more importantly, Martin sees the active promotion of robust historical thinking as both a democratic practice of vital importance to the maintenance and continued strengthening of democracy and thus society as a whole. At City Lit, Martin combines these interests with his learner-centric approach that aims to both promote history as a socially relevant way of thinking and give each class and course a horizon beyond itself.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
