HIST 61 Britain and the Sea
This course features the vital role of the sea in the history of the British Isles and its colonies, peoples, and diaspora from the earliest days of British seafaring exploration until our own time. It assesses the extent to which the sea served as an extensive nexus among various places and peoples rather than a vast barrier or boundary. With this in mind, it traces the dramatic arc of history during which Britain was transformed from a small cluster of insignificant islands on the margins of Europe into an important hub of global networks with profound social, economic, political and cultural influence. At the same time, the course considers the importance of the sea in bringing British subjects into closer contact with a wide variety of environments and peoples whose influences transformed British attitudes, aspirations, and practices at home and abroad. The course also explores how a dynamic relationship with the sea itself, as experienced by ordinary people of Britain and its global contacts, shaped how these people viewed themselves, their history, their surroundings, and the wider world.
Instructor
Estabrook
Department-Specific Course Categories
Class of 2023 and Before Major Dist: INTER, pre-1700/pre-1800; Class of 2024 and Beyond Major Dist: EUR, premodern.