Su Luopei (Robert Spence) Introduction to Culture Studies, SS 2010

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Introduction to Culture Studies (UK & Ireland), SS 2010

General information concerning this course

In this course we examine the geology, geography, history and culture of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The course runs for one semester and is worth 3 Credit Points for BA (VSLT) and Erasmus students; students studying for a Diploma (DÜ/DD) can obtain the certificate of successful participation (Schein) that they need to register for the Vordiplomprüfung (Englisch 1.FS) or Diplomprüfung (Englisch 2.FS). To successfully complete the course, students need to attend regularly and pass a written examination, which will be held during the normal class time in either the second-last or the last week of lectures, depending on what the majority of participants prefer. It is necessary to register for the examination. BA students must register electronically (online, via HIS-POS); registration closes two weeks before the examination date. Diploma students register for the examination by writing their name on a list that will be available in class, or sending an email to the course leader.

All students taking the course should make sure that their correct e-mail address is on the course mailing list. It would be appreciated if students could include the word “[culture]” (in square brackets) in the subject field of any emails addressed to the course leader.

Links and handouts

Unit 0: Overview

Unit 0.1: Preparation

Prepare any questions you have about the course.

Unit 0.2: Lesson

Slides for Unit 0 (Introduction)

Unit 0.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 0 (Introduction)

Unit 0.4: Additional Materials for Unit 0 (Introduction)

British History Timeline

UK Yearbook

Outline Map of the British Isles

Unit 1: Geology

Unit 1.1: Preparation

Revise the geological periods (last 500 years).

Unit 1.2: Lesson

Slides for Unit 1 (Geology)

Unit 1.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 1 (Geology)

Unit 1.4: Additional Materials for Unit 1 (Geology)

How Britain formed

Geology of Great Britain

in case you are not familiar with Darwinian evolution, this is the best all-in-one introduction (it lasts an hour):

David Attenborough: Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

if you want to go into even more detail, here is a series of five one-hour lectures designed for children:

Richard Dawkins: Growing Up in the Universe

this is the best visual summary of the latest models of how life began (lasts 10 minutes):

cdk007: The Origin of Life - Abiogenesis - Dr. Jack Szostak

this is a brilliantly clear one-hour lecture on the origin of life by one of Richard Dawkins’s teachers:

John Maynard Smith: The Origin of Life

and here is an interesting BBC documentary series by a Scottish professor:

Iain Stewart: How the earth made us

Unit 2: Geography, Climate, Initial Human Settlement

Unit 2.1: Preparation

Study the following maps:

Topographic map of the UK

Topographic map of Ireland

Unit 2.2: Lesson

Slides for Unit 2 (Geography, Climate, Initial Human Settlement)

Unit 2.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 2 (Geography, Climate, Initial Human Settlement)

Unit 2.4: Additional Materials for Unit 2 (Geography, Climate, Initial Human Settlement)

Map of cities and towns in the British Isles

Geography of the United Kingdom

Geography of Ireland

Jared Diamond: Guns, Germs and Steel (1)

Jared Diamond: Guns, Germs and Steel (2)

Jared Diamond: Guns, Germs and Steel (3)

Jared Diamond: Why Societies Collapse

Unit 3: C1–C5 Roman Britain

Unit 3.1: Preparation

Revise your Latin, and read Julius Caesar’s description of Britain:

De bello gallico, Book V, Chapter 12

De bello gallico, Book V, Chapter 13

De bello gallico, Book V, Chapter 14

... and if your Latin has run out, you can check the English translations here:

Gallic War, Book V, Chapter 12

Gallic War, Book V, Chapter 13

Gallic War, Book V, Chapter 14

Unit 3.2: Lesson

Slides for Unit 3 (C1--C5: Roman Britain)

Unit 3.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 3 (C1--C5: Roman Britain)

Unit 3.4: Additional Materials for Unit 3 (C1–C5: Roman Britain)

Unit 4: C5–C10: Anglo-Saxons and Vikings

Unit 4.1: Preparation

Unit 4.2: Lesson

Notes for Unit 4 (Anglo-Saxons and Vikings)

Unit 4.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 4 (C5--C10: Anglo-Saxons and Vikings)

Unit 4.4: Additional Materials for Unit 4 (C5–C10: Anglo-Saxons and Vikings)

See photocopies in the envelope hanging next to my office door.

Unit 5: C10–C15: Middle Ages

Unit 5.1: Preparation

Unit 5.2: Lesson

See photocopies in the envelope hanging next to my office door.

St Crispin's Day speech

Unit 5.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 5 (C10--C15: Middle Ages)

Unit 5.4: Additional Materials for Unit 5 (C10–C15: Middle Ages)

English Monarchs Family Tree

British Monarchs' Family Tree

Descent of Elizabeth II from William I

Unit 6: C16: Absolutism and Reformation

Unit 6.1: Preparation

Unit 6.2: Lesson

Notes for Unit 6 (Absolutism and Reformation)

Unit 6.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 6 (C16: Absolutism and Reformation)

Unit 6.4: Additional Materials for Unit 6 (C16: Absolutism and Reformation)

Unit 7: C17: Parliamentarism

Unit 7.1: Preparation

Unit 7.2: Lesson

Slides for Unit 7 (Parliamentarism)

Unit 7.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 7 (C17: Parliamentarism)

Unit 7.4: Additional Materials for Unit 7 (C17: Parliamentarism)

Unit 8: C18: Industrial Revolution

Unit 8.1: Preparation

Unit 8.2: Lesson

Unit 8.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 8 (C18: Industrial Revolution)

Unit 8.4: Additional Materials for Unit 8 (C18: Industrial Revolution)

A good introduction to the Industrial Revolution by Professor Rempel

Unit 9: C19:

Unit 9.1: Preparation

Unit 9.2: Lesson

Slides for Unit 9 (Imperial Britain)

Unit 9.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 9 (C19: Imperial Britain)

Unit 9.4: Additional Materials for Unit 9 (C19: Imperial Britain)

Unit 10: C20:

Unit 10.1: Preparation

Unit 10.2: Lesson

Unit 10.3: Worksheet Questions

Worksheet Questions for Unit 10 (C20: Post-Imperial Britain)

Unit 10.4: Additional Materials for Unit 10 (C20: Post-Imperial Britain)
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