Intellectual History (Taught)

Ideas and patterns of thought always have been, and continue to be, subject to historical change. The ways in which they change, and the reasons why they do so, make for fascinating study.

This programme will allow you to engage with some of the principal methodologies of intellectual history, such as the ‘Cambridge School’ and global intellectual history.

You will also have the opportunity to explore particular themes in intellectual history, such as the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, the religious thought of the Reformation, slavery in eighteenth-century Scotland, or the politics of history in the Arabic-speaking world since 1750, allowing you to develop a detailed understanding of the origins, historical circumstances, and implications of these phenomena.

Courses at the School, which can be complemented by a limited number of courses from other departments, can range from medieval patterns of thought to political analyses of 20th-century totalitarianism.

Our courses can change from year to year, but in previous years, our courses included areas such as the Enlightenment, medieval debates about marriage, and modern African political culture.

By the end of the programme, you will have the tools you need to appreciate the interdependence of text and context and the importance of ideas in past and present, as well as the ability to research effectively and present your work with confidence.

Breadth of expertise

The School of History, Classics and Archaeology has particular strengths in the intellectual history of classical Greece and Rome, Early Modern Europe and the Enlightenment, and the modern intellectual history of Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

The range of expertise available in the School and in the wider University gives this Intellectual History programme a rare combination of geographical as well as chronological breadth and depth.

Students also benefit from the ability to take courses offered by other Schools and Departments in the University, notably Philosophy, Politics, Science Studies, Geography, Divinity and Law.

See the University of Edinburgh website for detailed programme information.