HIST 90.11 Law and Empire

How did law justify European imperialism? What did law look like in different imperial contexts? How do the histories of empire and imperialism help us understand the history of law? Looking across regions and contexts, from early modern Iberian empires, to early colonial North America, to Africa and Asia, this course examines the relationship between law, empire, expansion, and colonialism from the 17th to 21st centuries. With a few exceptions, our readings and discussions will follow chronological order, veering off course occasionally to look at issues comparatively. Throughout, we'll be working to uncover how imperial approaches to law changed over time and how laws and legal institutions with imperial origins have shaped expectations and experiences into the present.

Cross Listed Courses

GOVT 60.23

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:INT or SOC; WCult:NW

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Class of 2023 and Before Major Dist: INTER; Class of 2024 and Beyond Major Dist: modern.