Unit information: Introduction to Portuguese and Brazilian History in 2010/11

Unit name	Introduction to Portuguese and Brazilian History
Unit code	HISP11303
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Emeritus Professor. Brookshaw
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None co-requsite None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is taught in Teaching Block 1 only, and enables you to gain an understanding of the main issues that determined the history of Portugal from the late medieval through to the modern period, focusing in particular on the country's experience as a colonialist power in Asia, Africa and America. You will also gain an understanding of Brazilian history from the colonial period through to the end of the nineteenth century. The unit will be taught by one weekly lecture, plus a series of seminars that run through the Teaching Block. A schedule of lectures and seminars, a full reading list, and a list of essay questions will be provided by the director at the beginning of the course.

Aims:

This unit will introduce students to the main issues that affected Portugal from its emergence as an independent nation state in the 12th century through to the modern period, focusing in particular upon its experience as a colonial power in Asia, Africa and America. It will also examine Brazilian history from the colonial period through to the end of the 19th century.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• You will gain an appreciation of the major features of Portuguese and Brazilian history during an important period of national formation.

• You will gain an understanding of the mutual social, cultural and linguistic influences that governed relations between Portugal and its various colonial territories at particular periods over the last six centuries.

Teaching Information

Lectures & seminars

Assessment Information

1 x Essay 33.3%, 90 min Exam 66.6%.

Reading and References

• Charles Boxer, The Portuguese Seaborne Empire

• Harold Livermore, A New History of Portugal

• David Birmingham, A Concise History of Portugal

• Boris Fausto, A Concise History of Brazil

• Gilberto Freyre, The Masters and the Slaves