HIST 1108 - Empires in World History

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025

From the beginning of recorded history to the twentieth century, the world has been shaped by the rise and fall of empires. They are an early attempt at a political unit larger than city or ethnic identity, and the concept has been remarkably resilient across the globe. This course explores how and why this idea of empire developed; how they were organised, how they were kept together, how rulers and ruled interacted, and how and why empires disintegrated. We will focus on a small number of world empires, beginning with one which has had an enduring cultural impact, namely the Roman Empire. We will then move to more recent empires from across the world. This is more than political history. We investigate the impact of empire on language, art, culture, religion, the economy, the environment and, of course, political ideas of identity. The course has three main objectives. Firstly, it provides an introduction to the study of history at university level. Students will receive training in the practice of history by learning how to interpret and use primary and secondary sources (in translation) and how to frame an evidence-based historical argument. Secondly, the course furnishes students with an overview of the 'big picture' of world history across the last 2,500 years. Students will acquire essential contextual knowledge which will enrich their understanding of almost any subsequent course they take in history, classical studies or the humanities. Thirdly, the course introduces students to civilisations that are quite different and in some ways alien to our own, and yet which in many ways are similar. In our interconnected world, an understanding of the historical roots of different cultures is a prerequisite for global citizenship.

Open All

Course Details

Course Code	HIST 1108
Course	Empires in World History
Coordinating Unit	Historical and Classical Studies
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Assessment	Tutorial attendance, Primary source analysis, Research essay, Take home test

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Skye Krichauff

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

This course will consist of 2 x 1-hour lectures and 1 x 1-hour tutorial per week.

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from the Course Planner at

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate:

1	Demonstrate a deep historical knowledge ranging over time, space, and cultures, that includes an understanding of change and continuity over time.
2	Use critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to identify, access and analyse a wide variety of primary, secondary, textual and visual sources.
3	Use critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to evaluate and generate ideas and to construct evidence-based arguments in various formats in a planned and timely manner.
4	Exchange and explore historical ideas in small-group discussions by using team-work and communication skills which draw particularly on emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
5	Demonstrate an appreciation of, and sensitivity to, the diversity of historical and visual cultures.
6	Examine historical issues according to the scholarly and ethical conventions of the discipline of history.
7	Relate developments and concepts from the history of empires to an ethical understanding of social, cultural and political circumstances in the contemporary and intercultural world.
8	Demonstrate historical skills conducive to career readiness, including: information technology skills to manage data and to communicate, skills in collaborative and self-directed problem-solving, and sensitivity to intercultural and ethical issues.

最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

最新糖心Vlog Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	2, 3, 4
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	4
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	8
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	7
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Learning Resources
Required Resources
- All course information will be available on MyUni at the beginning of semester. MyUni contains information about assessment tasks, lectures, tutorial topics, questions and reading lists.
Recommended Resources

The Barr Smith Library has a rich collection of books on our subject, available in hard copy and electronically. Information about accessing them can be found on MyUni and during class activities.

Online Learning
Additional course-related material will be available through MyUni:
- The site will contain the Course materials and further information on assessment tasks.
- It will contain electronic lecture recordings, lecture notes, handouts and worksheets.
- Regular announcements and updates will be posted via MyUni.
- You will be expected to check your emails and the website regularly for updates and other information relating to the course.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures

Lectures are scheduled to begin in Week 1 of semester. There will be online lectures each week, which will provide students with a
basic core of factual knowledge about the empires that we cover in the course. There will also be one face-to-face lecture/workshop most weeks where students will engage in activities which enhance understanding of the course content and develop skills for historical research, analysis and writing.

Tutorials

Tutorials begin in Week 2. Each student will attend one tutorial per week. In tutorials students will participate in activities designed to develop the skills essential to the discipline of history. Tutorials are also a forum in which the class can exchange ideas about the key themes of the course and hone their oral communication skills. The materials indicated in the course guide and the lectures provide you with the necessary background to participate in tutorials and to contribute to discussion. Tutorials comprise an essential component of the course with the primary purpose of developing key graduate attributes as listed above. As a result tutorial attendance is a requirement of this course. See the Course Information for further instructions on tutorial participation.

Student Support and Research Skills

This course is designed as an introduction to the study of history at university level. There will be a strong emphasis on developing research skills. We work closely with the library to provide hands-on training in the use of library resources. Various small exercises in the large-group sessions and tutorials, will also familiarise students with the basic skills they need to research and write their assessments.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Lectures: 24 hours
Tutorials: 12 hours
Preparation for tutorials: 12 hours
General reading (e.g. of course key reading and general reading): 28 hours
Researching and writing assessments: 80 hours

Total: 156 hours

Learning Activities Summary

The main focus on this course is provide broad knowledge of historical change and sensitivity to diverse experiences in history. It also provides an introduction to the basic skills necessary to undertake historical study at an advanced level.

Since this is a modular course that is team taught, the precise content and learning activities will vary from year to year. Course Information containing details of content and activities will be available at the beginning of semester. In general, 2-3 weeks will be spent examining each empire in the course. The following may be examined: Ancient Empires, the Aztec Empire, the British Empire, the American Empire, and the Japanese Empire.

Specific Course Requirements

Tutorial attendance and participation is a requirement of this course. Only students who attend at least 80% of tutorials will qualify to pass the course unless documentation of a medical condition can be supplied. There will be opportunities to attend 'make up' tutorials (i.e. other tutorials scheduled in the week) if a class is missed.

The 最新糖心Vlog's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment tasks will relate directly to the specific empires studied throughout semester. Tasks for this course include:

1) 1500-word essay (40%)
2) 1000-word primary source analysis (30%)
3) Take-home test (30%)

Assessment Related Requirements

All written work must be submitted electronically through MyUni.

Assessment Detail

1) 1500-word essay (40%)

Students will be required to write an extended research essay on one of the empires covered in the course. It intends to assess written communcation skills, analytical ability, critical thinking and reading - all fundemental skills in the discipline of history.

2) 1000-word primary source analysis (30%)

Students will be required to analyse a primary source related to one of the empires covered in the course. Primary sources are the building blocks of history and students will learn how to critically evaluate them quickly and efficiently.

3) Take-home test (30%)

This assignment is taken at the end of the course. Students answer general questions on the emergence, character, and fall of empires. The test requires students to draw on their knowledge of the range of empires that we have covered in the course.

Submission

All assignments are to be submitted electronically via MyUni. Further submission details will be included in the Course Guide.

Students wishing to apply for an extension need to submit the MACA form to the Course Coordinator well in advance of the due date.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

This course will follow the standard marking scheme. Further details will be given to you at the beginning of the course.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The 最新糖心Vlog places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the 最新糖心Vlog to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

Students will be given an opportunity to give feedback through SELTs in this course.
Student Support
Students are encouraged to make use of available support services for this course.
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
These policies are important for understanding the institutional context for this course.

The School of Humanities is committed to upholding the 最新糖心Vlog's Policy on Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S). All staff and students have a legal responsibility to act in the interests of themselves and others with respect to OH&S. For information on the School's contingency plan and emergency procedures, please see the OH&S section on the school website.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

最新糖心Vlog