Buckingham House before it became Buckingham Palace, 1809.
Instructor(s)
Prof. Harriet Ritvo
MIT Course Number
21H.342
As Taught In
Fall 2003
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Highlights
This course features a gallery of images and archived syllabi from various semesters.
Course Description
This course is an an exploration of British culture and politics, focusing on the changing role of the monarchy from the accession of the House of Hanover (later Windsor) in 1714 to the present. The dynasty has encountered a series of crises, in which the personal and the political have been inextricably combined: for example, George III's mental illness; the scandalous behavior of his son, George IV; Victoria's withdrawal from public life after the death of Prince Albert; the abdication of Edward VIII; and the public antagonism sparked by sympathy for Diana, Princess of Wales.