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Module

ARA2097 : Historical Archaeology of the Modern World (post 1492)

  • Offered for Year: 2020/21
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Jane Webster
  • Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

This module explores the physical and social landscapes created in the ‘New World’ (and at ‘home’ in Europe too), as European colonisers interacted with indigenous peoples. We focus on the Caribbean, North America, Western and Southern Africa, and Britain and look mainly at the period from 1492 – c.1900. Topics to be covered include the archaeology of Spanish and British settlement in the Caribbean; the study of colonial elites and indigenous peoples in British North America; the archaeology of slavery and of global consumerism; archaeology and racism in Southern Africa, and colonial heritage presentation issues today.

The aims of this module are:

• To introduce students to the historical archaeology of European overseas exploration and settlement, in selected contexts from 1492 to the 20th century.
• To introduce students to the historical archaeology of Britain after 1492, and to encourage an understanding of the relationship between overseas exploration and developments in the ‘home’ country.
• To examine and engage in debates about the range of interpretative frameworks available for modelling contact and culture change in selected colonial contexts.
• To expand students’ understanding of the relationship between documentary sources and archaeological data that characterises historical archaeology as a discipline.

Outline Of Syllabus

Week 1 - Introduction
Week 2-3 - The Caribbean
Week 4-7 - North America
Week 8-11 - The slave trade and West and Southern Africa
Week 12 - Bringing it home to Britain

Teaching Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Assessment Methods

Module leaders are revising this content in light of the Covid 19 restrictions.
Revised and approved detail information will be available by 17 August.

Reading Lists

Timetable