HIST3266 The British in India: From the East India Company to Partition (Part 2)

For centuries, India was at the heart of Britain’s global empire, while the British presence there affected the lives of millions of people and had profound consequences for the entire subcontinent, the legacies of which are still with us today. This module explores the history of Britain’s long relationship with India and its people, from the dawn of British rule with the commercial and political activities of the East India Company, through the nineteenth-century heyday of the Raj, to the final days of British India under Lord Mountbatten which led to the partition of the subcontinent in the mid-twentieth century. In doing so, we will evaluate the various historiographical debates surrounding the British presence in India. And by focusing on primary sources – letters, journals and political documents, as well as images, literature and film – we will explore various facets of this history to understand better the motivations and perspectives of those involved.

Teaching and learning methods

The current intention is to deliver teaching for this module online. If circumstances allow, some form of blended delivery methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, or individual tutorials may be introduced if it is safe for all concerned to do so. However, delivery will remain entirely online if face to face teaching is not possible or advisable.

Summative