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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : Scottish History

Undergraduate Course: Death and Taxes: Finance and Politics in Early Modern Scotland (SCHI10072)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course is about the fiscal history of early modern Scotland, from about 1500 to 1707. During this period, Scotland underwent a transition from a 'domain state', with state revenues drawn mainly from the crown's land rents and feudal dues, to a 'tax state', with state revenues drawn mainly from taxes. It also survived various periods of dramatic bankruptcy and crisis. The course introduces students to theoretical models of fiscal transition, and to economic analysis of different types of taxation. There is also a political dimension, since fiscal policy was shaped by various interest groups (nobility, church, merchants, artisans), and sometimes driven by the imperatives of warfare. This was a period of state formation, and the course examines this with particular attention to the relative contribution of two periods: the personal reign of James VI (1585-1625) and the Scottish Revolution (1638-1651). The first part of the course deals with structural issues concerning different types of taxation: how could a pre-modern state extract resources from powerful elites? The second part surveys the period chronologically, looking at fiscal policy-making from the Reformation to the Union of Crowns, through to the Scottish Revolution and finally the Union of Parliaments in 1707. The course organiser is an active researcher in this field, and the course uses primary documents to introduce students to the latest research ideas.

Course description Part I: structures
Week 1: Theories and definitions
Week 2: Domain revenues
Week 3: Taxes on land
Week 4: Taxes on trade
Week 5: Urban, local and property taxes
Week 6: Patterns of expenditure
Part II: events
Week 7: The Reformation and the expropriation of the church
Week 8: The Octavians, royal bankruptcy, and the union of crowns
Week 9: Teind reform and the revocation of 1625
Week 10: The Scottish Revolution (1638-1651): fiscal revolution?
Week 11: Towards the union of 1707
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed:
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements A pass or passes in 40 credits of first level historical courses or equivalent and a pass or passes in 40 credits of second level historical courses or equivalent.
Before enrolling students on this course, Personal Tutors are asked to contact the History Honours Admission Secretary to ensure that a place is available (Tel: 503783)
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting Students should usually have at least 3 History courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses.

Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  21
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 172 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) One essay of 3,000 words (30%). One document report, in which students submit a revised version of what they judge to be the best of their reports previously posted to the bulletin board (10%). One examination of 2 hours duration, requiring answers to two essay-type questions (60%).
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Academic year 2014/15, Part-year visiting students only (VV1) Quota:  5
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 172 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) One essay of 3,000 words (30%). One document report, in which students submit a revised version of what they judge to be the best of their reports previously posted to the bulletin board (10%). One examination of 2 hours duration, requiring answers to two essay-type questions (60%).
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course students will:
- have an understanding of the role of state finance in early modern Scotland;
- recognise the interconnectedness of political and economic interests;
- be aware of theories and debates among historians of state finance;
- be familiar with the sources and methods of Scottish fiscal history;
- have produced a sound, properly referenced and analytical essay;
- be able to analyse primary texts containing textual and numerical data, situating them in terms of context, genre, and argument;
- have demonstrated the above skills by way of essay, examination and presentation.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Enhanced abilities in research, critical thinking, weighing up of arguments and evidence; production of an innovative piece of research work that adheres to bibliographical conventions; skills in presenting information and arguments to fellow students / lecturer in class.
KeywordsDeath
Contacts
Course organiserDr Julian Goodare
Tel: (0131 6)50 4021
Email: J.Goodare@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Clare Guymer
Tel: (0131 6)50 4030
Email: clare.guymer@ed.ac.uk
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