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MO3224 States at Sea? Colonialism, Commerce and Culture in the Eighteenth-century Indian Ocean World

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

The module will be capped as per the School of History policy (normally 12-14 students). Where modules are over-subscribed, places are allocated randomly by the Academic Support Officer.

Planned timetable

Friday, 1100-1300

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr S Easterby-Smith

Dr S Easterby-Smith
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Sarah Easterby-Smith

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

What do we mean when we talk of 鈥榮tate power鈥�, and how did this relate to early modern culture and society? This module focuses on one of the most significant zones for state formation 鈥� the Indian Ocean. One of the oldest 鈥渕aritime highways鈥� in human history, the region was pivotal to the eighteenth-century global economy and had a huge cultural influence on Europe and east Asia. It was also the crucible in which France, Britain and their European counterparts developed their East India Companies 鈥� commercial empires that drove forward European colonialisms, and that have also been labelled 鈥榗ompany states鈥�. Taking a case study approach, each week uses the history of an individual, a family, an image or an object to explore major topics such as: early modern imperialisms; the East India Companies; forced labour; piracy. The module considers how power was manifested culturally.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS MO1007 AND PASS MO1008 AND PASS MO2008 AND PASS HI2001 AND PASS MH2002

Assessment pattern

100% Coursework

Re-assessment

4,000-word essay = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour seminar, plus 1 office hour.

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

278

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.