Colonialism, Race, and Identity
In 1500, European states controlled roughly seven percent of the world’s land; by 1914, the figure was closer to 85 percent. In this history course, we investigate this staggering transformation and examine its consequences for colonizer and colonized alike. We investigate the interaction between colonizer and colonized, study the collision between the lofty principles espoused by colonizers and the actual practice of colonialism, and examine the ways in which the historical experience of colonialism transformed the lives of people in both the colonies and in the metropoles.
This course examines the interplay of three terms: colonialism, race, and identity. Part of the aim of this course is to historicize these terms; put another way, one of the central premises of this course is that these terms gain their meaning and their importance in history, in the real events and activities of life.
In this iteration of the course, we will focus on aspects of French colonialism. Our study will consist of three major “areas”: the Haitian Revolution; the colonization, conquest, and European settlement of Algeria; and development of anti-colonial thought and action. Those areas will be linked by reading about broader histories of racism.
Department: Division of Arts and Humanities
University: Quest University Canada