Explore UCD

UCD Home >

HIS21360

Academic Year 2025/2026

History from the Margins: Race, Class, and Identity in Modern Global History (HIS21360)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Marilena Anastasopoulou
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module explores the historical experiences of marginalised groups in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It examines how social, economic, political, and cultural forces shaped and continue to shape the lives of those on the margins of society. How does the uncovering and writing of the histories of people who have been silenced in traditional historical records change the field of history? Can oral history teach us anything other than ‘The Myths We Live By’? Key themes include migration, crime, poverty, health, gender, and mortality, with a focus on global perspectives and intersections of race, class, and identity. You will be looking at wide-ranging cases studies, including South Asia, the Middle East, South East Europe, and Africa. This module offers a diverse account, tracing the voices and silences of marginalised people. Finally, it engages with methodological challenges and ethical considerations such as intersubjectivity, power relations and self‐conscious historical writing.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students will:
Understand the historical roots of marginalisation and its impact on modern societies.
Critically analyse the interconnectedness of critical situations (poverty, crime, migration, health) and identities (race, gender, class).
Develop an awareness of the lived experiences of marginalised communities across time and place.
Engage with historical sources, narratives, and case studies to understand the agency of marginalised people.
Write scholarly assignments appropriate for a Second Year (Level 2) student of history.

Indicative Module Content:

Course Structure

I. Concepts and Methods

Introduction to Marginalisation and Historical Contexts
Historiography and Sources
Gender, Sexuality, and Identity
Memory of Trauma

II. Case Studies

Refugees
Migration and Diaspora
Crime, Punishment, and Social Control
Health, Disease, and Medicine
Public Health and Mortality

III. Reflections

Conclusion and Contemporary Reflections
Essay Writing

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

45
Autonomous Student Learning

45
Lectures

11
Seminar (or Webinar)

11
Total

112

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module combines a weekly 1-hour lecture and 1-hour seminar. The lectures provide interactive overviews of the week’s topics, focusing on key concepts, historiography, and events. The seminars promote active learning and critical engagement with primary and secondary sources.

Generative AI may only be used for specific purposes in this module and with the agreement of the module coordinators. If students use generative AI (e.g. citation, translation, and improvement), they should do it critically and acknowledge its use in the bibliography.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Students will be graded on their participation during the seminars. This is not based on
attendance, but rather active discussion and participation.		 Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Each student will complete a 1000 -1500 -word document analysis. The module coordinators will
release the document for analysis early in the semester.		 Week 7 Graded No
30
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Each student will complete an essay of 2000 to 2500 words.
Week 14 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the document analysis and final assessment will be given electronically and by appointment in one-to-one meetings throughout the semester.

Name Role
Manikarnika Dutta Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Thomas Parkinson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Eoghan Fitzgerald Tutor
Ms Hayley Kilgallon Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 2 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 3 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Seminar Offering 4 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Seminar Offering 5 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Seminar Offering 6 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 09:00 - 09:50
Spring Seminar Offering 8 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Seminar Offering 9 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 11:00 - 11:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.