2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3687 The Later Elizabethan Age: Politics and Empire

40 creditsClass Size: 16

Module manager: Professor Stephen Alford
Email: s.alford@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Module replaces

HIST3686

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Taking as its point of departure the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587 and its point of termination the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603, this special subject will investigate in close detail the last 'long' decade of Elizabeth's reign - one of the least-researched aspects of the Tudor century. Our interest will be in two areas especially. The first is politics, and the challenge for the queen and her government of negotiating the war conditions of the 1590s, political faction at court and the anxieties of a still undecided royal succession. The second is Elizabethan England's expanding horizons in these years in terms of colonization and trade in America and South-East Asia. These two things - a polity under severe strain and yet also emerging global ambition - are interconnected, and it is the purpose of this special subject to explore why.

Objectives

The objective for this module is to give students:

- a deep and informed understanding of the later period of Queen Elizabeth I's reign, 1588-1603;
- a deep understanding of the different kinds of sources historians use to investigate Tudor politics and colonization;
- a sophisticated and critical knowledge of the secondary literature on Elizabethan history;
- the skills to read and interpret both written and non-written primary sources;
- the skills to be able to express ideas and arguments effectively and persuasively in essays, primary source exercises, discussions and presentations.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the key approaches to later Elizabethan history;
2. demonstrate a knowledge of the different kinds of sources historians use to investigate Tudor politics and colonization;
3. demonstrate a mastery of the appropriate scholarly literature;
4. demonstrate their ability to read and interpret sources;
5. demonstrate their ability to express ideas and arguments effectively and persuasively in essays, primary source exercises, discussions and informal (non-assessed) presentations.

Syllabus

Topics may include: Elizabeth Regina; Court and courtiers; Government; Church and religion; War; Diplomacy ; Royal succession; Enforcement; Richard Hakluyt; The Cecils; The wider world; Elizabeth in her own words ; History, power and politics; The fall of the Earl of Essex; The East Indies; Sir John Harington and the succession; Sir Robert Cecil; 1603.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	4	1.00	4.00
Seminar	22	2.00	44.00
Private study hours			352.00
Total Contact hours			48.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Private study

Reading to prepare for seminars (120 hours); further self-directed reading (66 hours); preparing and researching essay, including formative elements (80 hours); preparing and researching final exam (OTA), including formative elements (80 hours); and reflection on feedback (6 hours).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will have the opportunity to discuss their essay plans and ideas with the module tutor.
In semester two students will receive appropriate formative feedback in their preparations for the exam, including written feedback of at least two sample gobbet answers.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4,000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment	48 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/10/2024

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