Contact Zones in Colonial History

Course code HIST2025
Not available in 2016


This course focuses on the encounters and interactions between peoples and individuals usually considered on opposite sides of colonial and imperial frontiers. We investigate a series of historical examples of cross-cultural exchanges in a range of colonial/imperial settings such as Australia, North America, Africa and Asia, applying the concept of 'contact zones' to their analysis.


Not currently available.

Learning Outcomes

1. An understanding of the concept of 'contact zones' and an ability to use the concept effectively to critically read and assess historical accounts of conquest, colonisation and empire;

2. A capacity to reflect on colonial/imperial cross-cultural histories and to engage in historical debates in class discussions and in written assignments;

3. An awareness and critical understanding of the gendered nature of contact zones;

4. An understanding and knowledge of cross-cultural relationships in a range of historical contexts, enabling a transnational and comparative understanding of such relationships.


Through a diverse range of historical case studies from colonial/imperial histories in Australia, Africa, North America, and Asia, students will consider thematic issues which may include: agency, power, resistance and accommodation; gender, including masculinity, domesticity, interracial intimacies, and child-rearing; local/metropole relationships, and transcolonial connections; and popular/literary representations of cross-cultural relationships.

Replacing Course(s)

This course replaces the following course(s): HIST3025. Students who have successfully completed HIST3025 are not eligible to enrol in HIST2025.


This course replaces HIST3025. If you have successfully completed HIST3025 you cannot enrol in this course.

Assumed Knowledge

10 units of History at 1000 level plus 10 additional units in history, anthropology, sociology, gender studies, Aboriginal studies, English or politics

Assessment Items

Written Assignment: Written assignments and exercises

In Term Test: In class test

Contact Hours



