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HIS33330

Academic Year 2026/2027

Nation, Interdependence, and Empire: Europe 1870-1882 (HIS33330)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor William Mulligan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The 1870s proved a transformative decade with the emergence a European order that endured until the outbreak of the First World War. In the absence of a diplomatic conference (as in 1648 or 1919) or hegemonic power (such as the United States after 1945), the emerging order was decidedly not the product of design. Rather, it resulted from experimentation, contingency, and the interaction of diverse political, social, economic, cultural, and technological processes. The transformations were often paradoxical – restraints on war in Europe and violent imperial conquest in Africa and Asia; the hardening of state sovereignty and the expansion of transnational movements and institutions; the return to economic protectionism with tariffs and financial convergence under the Gold Standard. Drawing on a wide range of primary source material, this module will examine these transformations from the Franco-German War in 1870 to the British occupation of Egypt in 1882. It will assess the extent, depth, and flexibility of the emerging European order, who forged and participated in it, and who was excluded from it.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should:
1) Know the key issues in European history in the 1870s;
2) Understand the relationships between different historical processes;
3) Engage with historiographical debates on European politics in 1870s;
4) Analyse primary sources.

Indicative Module Content:

Key topics include:
1) The transition from cabinet to people’s war
2) The making of foreign policy
3) Forms of sovereignty
4) Imperial expansion
5) Trade and tariffs
6) Financial integration and the Gold Standard
7) Transnational civil society
8) International institutions

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Expert

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Expert

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Proficient

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 3
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

4
Seminar (or Webinar)

26
Project Supervision

2
Specified Learning Activities

25
Autonomous Student Learning

170
Total

227

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, and one-to-one meetings with students to discuss their research topics in this module. Students are expected to read widely in the secondary literature and analyse primary sources in advance of weekly seminar discussions.

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
Individual Project: Students will conduct a research project and submit a research paper, circa 3,500 words. During the semester, students will lead one seminar discussion related to their research paper Week 14 Graded No
50
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Students will write one essay (1500-2000 words), choosing from a selection of questions set out in the module handbook. Week 8 Graded No
30
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: This is based on participation on weekly seminars, including asking questions, demonstrating understanding of sources and documents, and collaborating with classmates. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


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, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 10:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
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