Russia in Revolution 1905-21
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| HIST3014 | History | 3 | 40 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- HIST3014
- School
- History
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 40
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module surveys and analyses Russia’s development between the 1905 revolution and the end of the civil war in 1921. The module focuses on the conflict in historiographical debate over the nature and extent of Russia’s political and social development, and on key features of this period. These include the causes for and impact of the 1905 revolution, Russia’s economic and industrial development, challenges to rural life, the development of civil society, the impact of World War One on Russian society, and the thesis of continuum of crisis between 1914 and 1921. Themes include the importance of social identity in revolution, the importance of symbolism and imagery in understanding revolution, the role of violence and the language of hatred, and the roles of individuals and key political groups within the revolutionary process.
Target Students
Students must have taken HIST1001 or HIST1002.
Classes
- One 3-hour seminar each week for 20 weeks
Assessment
- 30% Coursework 1: Individually assessed coursework item (3,000 words)
- 30% Coursework 2: Individually assessed coursework item (3,000 words)
- 40% Coursework 3: Individually assessed coursework item (3,500 words)
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
The module aims to provide students with a broad knowledge of Russian history, 1905-1921, and deeper familiarity with a range of key primary sources and the contexts in which they were written. It will also enable students to enhance and develop a range of intellectual and transferable skills, in particular the evaluating of primary source material, as listed below.Learning Outcomes
a. Knowledge and understanding: By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- explain and interpret the complexity of individuals' social identities, and the imprecise nature of class delineation in understanding social identity
- assess the motives and ideologies of various social, religious and political groups operating during the Russian revolution
- evaluate the multiplicity of different historians' responses to and interpretations of the 1917 Russian revolution.
Intellectual skills. By the end of the module students should be able to:
- think critically and imaginatively on the course of the Russian revolution
- engage with the key problems arising in interpreting the course of the Russian revolution and Russia's slide from liberal democracy to civil war and dictatorial government
- read and evaluate critically primary source documents
- assess and evaluate competing historical explanations
- construct coherent and independent arguments on the subject matter.
Professional/Practical Skills. The module will develop students ability to:
- analyse information and arguments from a range of primary and secondary sources
- use IT to complete written assignments.
Transferable skills. The module will also develop students ability to:
- manage large, incomplete and disparate bodies of knowledge
- develop oral and written communication skills
- work with other students on the module researching in primary and secondary sources
- take responsibility for their own learning
- demonstrate IT skills in research and presentation