Course overview
Food and drink are essential for our survival, but what does thinking about the food/drink reveal about history and about ourselves? The aim of this course is to explore food/drink in world history, and to pose the following question: what can food/drink tell us about a society at a particular time? The course will allow you to develop your abilities to think critically about everyday practices such as cooking, eating, drinking and meals, and to locate them within their historical context so you can reflect on the roles that such practices have played in the development of various societies. How have food/drink been used to display status? What rituals are associated with drinking and why? What makes a 'national cuisine'? How have changing gender roles influenced the family meal? Has globalisation negatively influenced our eating habits? How do we make 'ethical' food choices? Students should complete the course with an understanding of the role of food/drink over the course of history; an appreciation of the economic, social, and political contexts that have influenced practices associated with the production and consumption of food/drink; and the ability to engage in independent research on an issue relating to the history of food/drink.
Course learning outcomes
- Develop critical thinking and research skills about historical issues, using food/drink as a means to develop these skills.
- Gain knowledge and an historical understanding about key places, events, concepts, and themes relating to food/drink using a thematic and chronological approach.
- Understand the major changes in world history relating to food/drink.
- Be familiar with key literature and critical perspectives from the field of history of food/drink.
- Identify, locate and analyse relevant primary and secondary sources in order to construct evidence-based arguments relating to the history of food/drink.
- Communicate effectively, in a range of written, spoken, and other formats, using appropriate conventions.
- Proficiently use contemporary technologies to communicate and conduct research.
- Work effectively individually and within a team to learn and produce assignments.