| Unit name | Global Cities (Level H Lecture Response Unit) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HIST30034 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Lewis |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Cities are places where the world connects. In this unit we examine Asian cities as sites of exchange in a globalising world, from the port-cities of early modern era to the futuristic "World Cities" of the contemporary age. We ask how colonial encounters shaped the emergence of the modern city, from architecture and urban planning to intellectual and social life. We consider the way urban spaces have been transformed by the influx of migrants and capital, and investigate the sites of urban sociability from literary salons and entertainment parks to red-light districts and migrant enclaves. We question the role of cities as incubators of nationalism, popular modernity, and cosmopolitanism. We look at the effects of war and violence and the roots of urban poverty in the transition from the colonial to the post-colonial era. The class is taught through thematic mini-lectures followed by case studies presented by the students as well as seminar discussions. The unit introduces students to new themes in global, cultural, and social history, while allowing students to specialise in the histories of particular cities.
On successful completion of this unit students will have developed: (1) a wide understanding of the development of global cities since the early modern era; (2) the ability to analyse and generalise about how global cities developed and the factors that shaped them as unique and urban spaces; (3) the ability to select pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate more general issues and arguments; (4) the ability to derive benefit from, and contribute effectively to, large group discussion; (5) the ability to identify a particular academic interpretation, evaluate it critically, and form an individual viewpoint.
1 x 2-hour interactive lecture per week.
One summative coursework essay of 3000 words (50%) and one unseen examination of two hours (50%). Both elements will assess ILOs 1-3, and 5.
C.A. Bayly, The Birth of the Modern World (2004)
Thomas Metcalf, Imperial Vision: Architecture in the British Raj (1992)
Scot Barmé, Woman, Man, Bangkok: Love, Sex, and Popular Culture in Thailand (2002)
James Warren, Rickshaw Coolie: a people's history of Singapore, 1880-1940 (2003)
Leo Ou-Fan Lee, Shanghai Modern: the Flowering of a New Urban Culture in China, 1930-1945 (1999)
