Dr Patrick Wallis CMK.C414 and Dr Tamas Vonyo CMK.C316

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Economic History, BSc in Economic History with Economics, BSc in Economics and Economic History and BSc in Economics with Economic History. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

The course examines theories and concepts used in economic history, and provides an introduction to the methods used by economic historians to collect evidence and generate inference on relevant historical questions. The course will begin with an examination the development of history as a subject and discipline. Consideration will be given to the assumptions made in economics and their principal applications in economic history. The course will also introduce students to essential methods for the design and execution of a research project. Students will be introduced to the analysis of historical arguments and the critical interpretation of primary and secondary sources. The course will also provide students with the basic quantitative skills required to pursue an independent research project, and to engage critically with current scholarship in economic history.

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 2 hours of lectures and 2 hours of classes in the ST.

Students are expected to write four essays or equivalent pieces of written work.

J Tosh, The Pursuit of History (2002), L Jordanovea, History in Practice (2000), CH Feinstein and M Thomas, Making History Count (2002), and P Hudson, History by Numbers (2000)

Exam (70%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Project (30%, 3000 words) in the LT.

Survey questions on feedback to students may be non-informative because assessed work comes later in the term than the survey.