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Imperial Visions in Iberian Literature

Key information

  • Module code:

    5AASB102

  • Level:

    5

  • Semester:

      Spring

  • Credit value:

    15

Module description

The Iberian Peninsula was home to the first ventures of global empire. Drawing on key early modern texts in Portuguese and Spanish from the peninsula and its colonies this module examines the literary representation of the process of imperial expansion and colonization. Students will learn about the emergence of the modern states we now call Spain and Portugal through the literary representation of the relations between Iberian peoples and indigenous communities in Africa, the New World and Asia. Our discussion will focus on issues such as self-/national-identity, race, gender, tolerance, and conversion. The body of works examined includes texts by both men and women authors, and will feature drama and epic but also travel accounts and religious writing. This module is taught by staff with expertise in both Portuguese and Spanish and English translations of texts and secondary sources will be provided. The module is open to students from any degree programme.

Assessment details

One 2000 word essay (40%) and one take-home exam of 2000 words (60%)


Reassessment: Reassessment for this module will take the form of coursework.  The take-home exam element will be replaced with a 3000 word essay.

Educational aims & objectives

Students will learn how texts construct a ‘poetics of empire’ that advances but also critiques early modern imperialism and colonial rule, as territorial expansion moves from the local Iberian context of the so-called “Reconquista” to the overseas expansion into Africa, the New World, and Asia. By engaging with a variety of sources (some of which are read in extracts), students will reflect upon: early modern concepts of empire, imperialism and colonial rule (including political theories); ideological approaches to imperial discourse in literature (‘the poetics of empire’); the political, moral, and religious critique of empire posed by the corpus of selected texts.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, the student will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to a Level 5 module and in particular will be able to:

  • demonstrate good knowledge of key concepts underpinning the discourse of empire (empire; expansion; colonisation; holy way, crusade);
  • use such concepts comparatively across primary texts;
  • show awareness of the role played by historical context in the development of the concept of empire;
  • show awareness and effectively discuss critical approaches to the subject;
  • show an understanding of the link between literary form and the construction of imperialist discourse;
  • show awareness of how the critique of empire is present in primary texts;
  • begin to develop appropriate study and research strategies, in order to plan, draft, author and complete the module assessment.

Teaching pattern

Two hours per week

Suggested reading list

Students will read letters by Columbus (on the discovery of America) and by Vaz de Caminha (on the discovery of Brazil), as well as plays by Gil Vicente (Exhortation to War), Lope de Vega (The New World discovered by Christopher Columbus) and Sor Juana de la Cruz (loa to the Divino Narciso). Another section of the module will focus the Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies by the influential Bartolome de las Casas. We will also study the influential epic poem The Lusiads by the Portuguese Luis de Camões, before concluding our module with narratives of travel in Asia (Peregrination by Mendes Pinto) and of shipwrecking, compiled in the Tragic History of the Sea.


Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.