2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LISS1005 Building Britain, 1700-1840: Industrial 'Revolution' or 'Evolution'?

10 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Alexander Lock
Email: a.j.lock@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jul to 31 Aug View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Pre-requisite qualifications

GPA of 2.8 (US) or equivalent and enrolled at a university.

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

This module provides a broad introduction to Britain's 'industrial revolution', broadly from 1700 - 1840, to evaluate how far changes in the economy, technology, and social organisation, can be understood to represent a watershed (or revolutionary change) in the transition to a modern industrialized society. It is designed to introduce students to the key issues debated by historians of the period, and uses key primary source material to explore and evaluate these debates.

Learning outcomes
Students will gain strong knowledge of the historical debates relating to Britain in the 'long eighteenth century' and the broader historiography of the 'industrial revolution'. They will become familiar with a range of contemporary historical sources and become adept at locating, handling and synthesizing that material. They will participate in presentations, discussions and field trips that will foster analytical, interpretative and creative responses. The dual assessment, by essay and group presentation, will enable students to develop high-level skills in oral and written communication and enhance their ability to analyse, challenge and develop complex ideas. Furthermore, seminars and field trips will enable students to engage constructively with their surroundings and the ideas of their peers and tutors. Students will also develop skills in close reading and research and will further develop an ability to engage empathetically with different historical periods and social contexts.

Syllabus

- Introduction - What was the Industrial Revolution: Theory, Practice and Problems?
- Change in the Countryside: An Agricultural Revolution?
- Population, Towns and Urban Development.
- Transport Improvment: Roads, Rivers, Railways and Canals.
- Technological Innovations: Inventions, Inventors and Pioneers of Industry - An Enlightened Economy?
- The Means of Production: Workshops, Mills and Factories.
- The Industrial Revolution in the West Riding.
- Social Effects of Industrial Change: Health, Wealth, Wages and Family.
- Opponents to Change: Luddites and Captain Swing.
- Geography of Change: Why Manchester, Brimingham, Leeds, London, Liverpool, Sheffield?
- Religion and Industrial Development: Max Weber and the Protestant Spirit of Capitalism.
- A Financial Revolution?: Banks, Bubbles, and National Debt.
- Commentators on Change: Defoe, Smith, Malthus and Marx.
- Conclusion - Incremental or Revolutionary Change: Was there an Industrial Revolution?

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	2	4.00	8.00
Fieldwork	2	10.00	20.00
Seminar	16	1.50	24.00
Independent online learning hours			15.00
Private study hours			33.00
Total Contact hours			52.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

15 hours pre-course preparatory work (materials available on Minerva). This includes tasks and set readings.
Students will be encouraged to undertake further reading during non-class time set from primary source packs and using the 'suggested further reading' on the module syllabus as a guide; they will also be set preparation tasks.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student monitoring will be ongoing on a day-to-day basis.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2000 words	60.00
Presentation	10 minute individual presentation	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

- Essay set week 1 of 2 and due at the end of week 2. - Presentation set week 1 of 2 and due at the end of week 2.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 05/08/2020 13:06:39

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