Snapshot: The Discipline of History in British and Australian Universities

Abstract

In this chapter we offer a snapshot of undergraduate history teaching in British and Australian universities in 2016 based upon a comparative analysis of units according to type, place and period. The 'revolution' in the teaching of history announced half a century ago by Brian Harrison remains incomplete in both countries. The demise of premodern history is much more advanced than the rise of world history. The fragmentation of the discipline detected by Harrison has been kept somewhat in check by broad agreement about progression and training in historiography and methodology. The differences between and within the Australian and British systems testify to the multiplicity of influences upon curricula, many of which have little to do with developments in historical research.