An introduction to Atlantic history and the study of the various socio-cultural, political, economic and material relationships which came to link Europe, Africa, and the Americas; their formation, mutual influence and impact, and, in some instances, transformation or dissolution. Principal themes will be how historians study premodern American peoples; why, and to what extent, many of these peoples were conquered by Europeans; European interactions with (changing) Native American and African societies; the rise of slavery and racism; the varied consequences for early modern European societies of global expansion.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:- Analyse primary sources and use them to reconstruct beliefs, ideas, and attitudes from the past;
- Articulate their understanding of the past and explain how that understanding relates to the wider historiography as well as present-day concerns;
- Construct evidence-based arguments about the consequences of the "discovery of the New World" for European, American, and African peoples; and,
- Evaluate continuity and change over time, with particular reference to globalization, a process often said to define modernity.
Indicative Assessment
Tutorial Participation: (10%) [LO 1, 2].
Primary Source Analysis: 1,000 words (15%) [LO 1, 3].
Topical Essay: 2,000 words (35%) [LO 2, 3, 4].
Final Assessment: Either a 2,500 word research essay on an approved question, or a final 2.5 hour, closed-book examination (40%) [LO 1, 2, 3, 4].
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorial and tutorial-like activities; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
A Reading Brick will be compiled.
Preliminary reading:
A. Taylor, American Colonies. The Settling of North America (2002); T. Benjamin, The Atlantic World. Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900 (2009), N. Canny & P. Morgan, eds., The Oxford Handbook of the Atlantic World (2012).
Preliminary Reading
A. Taylor, American Colonies. The Settling of North America (2002).
Contact course convener for further details.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $5280 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2962 | 23 Feb 2026 | 02 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | 29 May 2026 | In Person | N/A |
