ARA2097 : Colonial Worlds: History and Archaeology
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Eric Tourigny
- Owning School: History, Classics and Archaeology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module explores through texts and objects 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; slavery and of global consumerism; heritage and racism in Southern Africa, and colonial heritage presentation issues today.
The aims of this module are:
- To introduce students to the history and archaeology of European overseas exploration and settlement, in selected contexts from 1492 to the 20th century.
- To introduce students to the history and 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
Topics to include:
Introduction
The Caribbean
North America
Slavery
West and Southern Africa
Bringing it home to Britain
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 58 | 1:00 | 58:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 7 | 1:00 | 7:00 | Formative assessment preparation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | 2 x 1hr lectures per week |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | Additional guided reading from module handbook |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | 1 hr per week |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 22 | 2:00 | 44:00 | 2hrs prep task per seminar |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide a broad overview of the history and archaeology of one of four selected case-studies areas. Seminars either examine one aspect of that week’s overview in greater depth, or cover aspects of study skills and coursework preparation. Many seminars involve some group work, and all are designed to tie into, and support, the set written work. Advance preparatory work is required for most seminars
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | 50 | Problem solving exercise (New Frisia) 1750 words |
| Essay | 2 | A | 50 | 1750 words |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | Practice problem solving exercise, New Frisia (500 words) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Data handling exercise (Formative and Assessment 1; Problem solving exercise) foster independent research and problem solving skills. The essay essays tests depth of understanding of a central theme raised in the module.
Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ARA2097's Timetable