ATS2110 · The history of slavery: From antiquity to the present

Overview

Slavery has existed since ancient times and has been used in societies as diverse as Ancient Rome and modern India, medieval Europe and nineteenth-century America. It still exists, in various forms, today. The unit investigates the meaning and experience of enslavement in a range of historical contexts. How and why have people been enslaved and what did it mean to live in slavery? How might slaves understand and achieve their freedom? Why have so many societies used slave labour? In recent times, attitudes to enslavement have changed, leading to campaigns against slavery in modern times: why did this happen, and to what extent have these campaigns been successful?

Areas of study: History

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Analyse and explain the long history of slavery from the classical era to the present day, including contemporary controversies about the legacy of slavery for our world.
2. Critically interpret a variety of primary and secondary sources
3. Construct evidence-based arguments in your writing and verbal participation
4. Critically and independently think about and reflect upon your learning.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.