1899: Apex Empires, Savage Wars (V1482)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

Situated within Eric Hobsbawm’s Age of Empire (1875-1914), this module offers a revisionist history of colonial battles that took place in the twentieth century. It concentrates on the Philippine-American War and the South African War (1899-1902), which have been understood as important, yet separate sites of anti-colonial resistance and memory.

Emphasising themes and case studies that draw these two conflicts together, it reconstructs 1899 as a watershed moment in a more connected global history, when the colonised struck back and laid bare the hypocrisy of apex colonisers consolidating their empires through what Rudyard Kipling called ‘savage wars of peace.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses:

• History BA
• History and Anthropology BA
• History and International Relations BA
• History and Philosophy BA
• History and Politics BA
• History and Sociology BA