Lecture

The Victorians: Life and Death

This module delves into the demographic changes of the nineteenth century, exploring the shift from high birth and death rates to lower figures due to improvements in health and living conditions. It covers:

  • Factors leading to demographic transition
  • Impact on culture and society
  • Attitudes towards death, suffering, and disease

By examining these themes, students will gain insight into how societal shifts influenced Victorian attitudes towards life, health, and the human condition.


Course Lectures
  • This module examines the transformative advancements in communication and transportation that characterized the early nineteenth century. Initially, communication was slow and journeys were fraught with uncertainty. However, the advent of new technologies revolutionized how individuals perceived time and space. Key innovations covered include:

    • Railways
    • Telegraphs and telephones
    • Steamships and motor cars

    Students will analyze how these developments shaped Victorian society and altered the everyday experiences of individuals in different regions.

  • This module traces the evolution of Victorian art and culture, starting with an age defined by realism in literature and art, and romanticism in music. It highlights the cultural richness of the era while addressing the transition towards modernism and the decline of traditional forms. Key topics include:

    • Characteristics of Victorian realism
    • Romantic influences in music and culture
    • The emergence of modernism and abstract art

    The discussion will provide an understanding of the complex relationship between the flourishing of Victorian culture and the factors leading to its eventual decline.

  • This module delves into the demographic changes of the nineteenth century, exploring the shift from high birth and death rates to lower figures due to improvements in health and living conditions. It covers:

    • Factors leading to demographic transition
    • Impact on culture and society
    • Attitudes towards death, suffering, and disease

    By examining these themes, students will gain insight into how societal shifts influenced Victorian attitudes towards life, health, and the human condition.

  • This module investigates Victorian attitudes towards gender and sexuality, challenging the notion of the era as solely defined by sexual repression. It examines:

    • Social conventions governing personal life
    • The complexity of Victorian marriage and sexuality
    • Women’s roles in Victorian culture

    Through recent research, students will explore the contradictions in Victorian beliefs and practices, gaining a nuanced understanding of gender dynamics during the period.

  • This module examines the intertwined nature of religion and science during the Victorian era. As Christianity dominated social and political life, significant scientific advancements began to challenge traditional beliefs. Key points include:

    • Impact of Darwin's theories on religious thought
    • Secularization trends among urban populations
    • Relationships between science, faith, and society

    Students will analyze how these developments contributed to changing attitudes towards religion and the emergence of secular ideologies.

  • This module investigates the themes of empire and race in the context of the Victorian era. It discusses how scientific and religious ideologies shaped British attitudes toward colonized peoples. Key elements include:

    • Social Darwinism and its implications for race
    • Governance of colonies and imperial ideologies
    • Consequences of empire for politics and nationalism

    By examining these factors, students will understand the socio-political consequences of imperialism and the legacy of Victorian attitudes towards race.