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History of Migration
Course Times & Enrolment
This course is currently unavailable.
Course Summary
Migration, so relevant in the modern world, is not a recent phenomenon. Since ancient times people have moved around, sometimes pushed away from their own homes by misfortune, sometimes pulled toward new countries by the lure of a better life. This course will investigate the changing nature of migration over the centuries.
Course Details
Pre-requisites for enrolment
None
Special Information
In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicative tools, materials and equipment:
- Koser, K. (2007) International Migration: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: OUP.
Content of Course
The course will survey the history of migration, introducing theoretical concepts and using case-studies to look at a range of contexts. The course will consider types of migration and their connections with different themes in history. We will look at religious migration, such as for Jewish, Catholic and Protestant groups; the impact of empires through slavery and merchant activity; global exploration leading to migration to the ‘new world’; economic migration due to cheap transportation, or due to necessity, such as with internal migration associated with Ireland and the Highlands. Reasons for migration will be assessed, from temporary movement for seasonal work, study or long-term tourism, to forced movement caused by military conflict or expulsions. We will also consider migration in the modern nation state, looking at recent challenges including border closures and other restrictions.
Teaching method(s)
The course will include a combination of informal lectures and classroom discussions. Learning will be informed by primary and secondary evidence. Throughout the course, interactive digital sources (such as online databases and geospatial network models) will be introduced to the students who will be encouraged to explore them at their own pace and use them to support independent study.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Assess the long-run history of migration from pre-modern movements to the present day.
- Analyse the impact of past migratory movements on our modern societies.
- Evaluate different theories of migration and integration, demonstrating how different approaches create different understanding of the past and different policies for the present and the future.
Sources
Core Readings
Essential:
- Bacci, Massimo Livi (2018) A Short History of Migration. Cambridge: Polity Press. Available online at: https://revistas.um.es/pantarei/article/view/446861
- Koser, K. (2007) International Migration: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: OUP.
Recommended:
- Holmes, C. (1988) John Bull's Island: Immigration and British Society, 1871-1971. London: Routledge. Available online at: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315675626/john-bull-island-colin-holmes
- Pooley, C.G. and Whyte, I.D. (1991) Migrants, emigrants and immigrants: A social history of migration. London: Routledge.
Web Sources
The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World https://orbis.stanford.edu/
The Trans-Atlantic and Intra-American slave trade databases https://www.slavevoyages.org/
Central Database of Shoah Victims’ Names
Maddison Project Database
The Proceedings of the Old Bailey
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
Queries
If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.
Student support
If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.