Colonial History, Imperial History, French History
The aim of this course is to present and to address from a general perspective the central role that colonization played within French history. Since the seventeenth century, French history has been inseparable from colonial and imperial history. Whether under the monarchy of the Ancien Régime, the Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte (or Napoleon III) or under the Republic, French governments constantly pursued the quest to achieve great power status through the conquest and exploitation of their colonies: it was an «imperial dream» projected on a planetary scale…
The course will focus in particular on the political aspects of colonization, both in the colonies (different modes of management) and in Metropolitan France, up to the time of decolonization (circa 1930 and 1960), and on its extension today (in the overseas departments and regions or communities). Throughout the course, we will address the following "question": how can one explain the fact that French history is characterized both by a march forward towards political progress (Revolution, human rights, Republic and democracy in Metropolitan France) and by colonial/imperial conquest and domination?
This course is open to all. No prerequisites needed in either history or methodology.
No required texts