| Unit name | Discovering America (Level H Reflective History) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HIST38016 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Jones |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Covering the 15th century to an (imagined) 23rd, this unit is about the role the 1490s 'discovery' voyages, led by Columbus, Vespucci and Cabot, have played in popular consciousness and identity formation of both Europeans and North Americans over a 500-year period. Who were the 'discoverers' And how, and why, did they transform from being real-life explorers to mythic embodiments of the American pioneer spirit? How have the reputations of these men changed over time and to what extent do they still inspire policy making and popular aspirations today, whether through multi-billion dollar NASA programmes, or in the form of television programmes that imagine futures where explorers 'boldly go where no-man has gone before' These are some of the questions we will be asking in a unit that is as much about the reception and meaning of the discovery voyages as it is about those who led them.
1 x 24 hour seen exam
