Law, History, and Culture in the United Kingdom

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city, home of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish seat of the British monarchy. UNESCO has named the city’s Old Town and New Town a World Heritage Site, and named the city as its first designated City of Literature. Students will have a front row seat to over 500 years of the city’s complex history and identity.

Cambridge and Cambridge University

The city of Cambridge surrounds the majestic buildings of the colleges of Cambridge University, a prestigious and world-renowned university, whose graduates, during an 800-year old history, include John Milton, Isaac Newton, and John Harvard (founder of Harvard University).

London

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” ~Samuel Johnson

London, a city of over 10 million people, traces its recorded history back to the Roman settlement of Londinium. Prior to the Norman invasion it had already become the largest settlement in England. Since 1066 it has served as the capital of England, and eventually Great Britain. Today it boasts over 250 museums, as well as more than three dozen theatres in just the West End district alone.

Dates

Depart U.S.: July 5
Arrive Edinburgh: July 6
Edinburgh to Cambridge: July 12
Cambridge to London: July 25
Return to U.S.: August 3

Students will take two 3-credit courses. Both courses complement those taught at KU in the Department of History and the School of Law. Classes are generally held in the mornings, with some days taken up with site visits to nearby locations relevant to the courses. Classes held every day Monday through Thursday with a 3-day weekend every week.

HIST 389/GIST 501: Conflict and Decline: The British Empire in the 20th Century 

This course examines the growth and decline of the British Empire during the twentieth century. Understand how Great Britain expanded empire while simultaneously repressing Irish nationalism during the first decades of the twentieth century. Follow diplomats, writers, scientists, and soldiers as they experience and explore the empire from Antarctica to India to Kenya, drawing complex conclusions about their role within it. Learn about the role of colonial soldiers in defending Great Britain during the First and Second World Wars. Engage with the process of decolonization and its legacies abroad and within Great Britain. Understand Britain’s role in international politics today. This course will explore the rise and decline of the British Empire over one century, plumbing the complexity of ideas and experiences that contribute to this thing called empire.

HIST 389/GIST 501: Crime & Justice: The British Isles & Beyond

The world of sleuthing and crime in Britain has long fascinated an international audience since the age of Sherlock Holmes. This course examines infamous crimes and how society reacted to them, such as the notorious and still unsolved case of “Jack the Ripper.” Students will gain an understanding of the legal systems of England, Scotland, and Wales, while studying in the capital city of these principalities. Thematically the course focuses upon crime and punishment in Britain, highlighting the cultural responses to specific crimes as well as certain methods of punishment. It concludes with an examination of crimes and legalism that transcend national boundaries, such as human trafficking and human rights violations.

Courses will be supplemented with guest lectures by UK faculty.