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This module begins with an important question: why look at the history of Scotland, Ireland and Wales? One part of the answer to that is that much British history is undertaken in an English context and so it is important to redress the balance a little. Additionally, studying Scotland, Ireland and Wales (and other peripheral English regions) permits new perspectives on processes central to the English experience. This, therefore, is a wide-ranging module which covers the medieval, early modern and modern periods through a number of important thematic foci. The ultimate aim is to develop a solid base of understanding of the important processes which shaped history on the periphery of the English state.

The module examines key developments in the history of Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and the interactions of those nations and peoples with England. The aim is to introduce students to the study of past cultures on the periphery and their interaction with the colonising English culture.

The module is organised in two blocks, with an introduction and a final overview. The first block will explore some of the broad processes of change and environmental and other factors which impacted on these countries (and regions) and which have interacted with the English experience. Sessions will vary year by year and include topics such as: religious divides and the conflicts they caused (in the early modern and modern periods); natural resource exploitation (e.g. coal; fish; tin; flax; water power); migration – temporary and permanent; empire; industrialisation; issues surrounding land ownership and associated changes in agricultural organisation.

The second block will develop a close focus on the impact of these processes and factors on selected regions. The chosen regions will vary but will be drawn from the following: north-west Wales; south Wales; western Ireland; Cornwall; north-west Scotland; the Scottish lowlands.

Students should emerge from this module with a better understanding of British history and an appreciation that processes evident across Britain also have national and regional manifestations and variations.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1.Demonstrate knowledge of selected themes in the history of Scotland, Ireland and Wales from their foundation onward.

2.Understand some of the features of English history which are accepted by historians as crucial in the development of neighbouring countries.

3.Show a critical awareness of the interplay between the different themes covered by the module.

4.Demonstrate the ability to analyse critically the arguments of historians and the approaches of social and cultural history in particular.

5.Be able to make comparisons and contrasts in the study of history across different countries.

6.Demonstrate proficiency in written communication.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.