London: Biography of a City
Lisa Bowers Isaacson
Throughout its history, London has been the political, cultural, trading and financial capital of
England. This course is an introductory survey of the history of London from its Roman origins
to 1945, with emphasis on how royalty, trade, religion and social conditions have shaped the
pattern of the city’s growth. It draws upon primary source materials, historical map and guided
walks. The course is divided equally between in-class lectures and discussions and specially
created walks through the city neighborhoods. Each student completes two projects based on
their own exploration of the London streets.
Course texts: The Times History of London (atlas)
L. M. Bowers Isaacson, ed., London Sourcebook
London Readings, L. M. Bowers Isaacson, ed. at website
http://pages.britishlibrary.net/lmbowersisaacson
Course overview: During the course, classes of lectures/discussions held at the site will
alternate with illustrative walks in the city.
The course has four goals: first, to gain a general understanding of the history of this city over
2001 years, particularly how the pattern of the development reflects the society that inhabits it;
second, to overlay that intellectual understanding with a visual sense of the way London grew,
in other words to learn how to read a city for the historical clues; third, to learn about historical
methods, questions and the kinds of sources available for studying London; and fourth, for you
to apply this background and skills to investigate an aspect of London history of particular
interest to you.
Classes on site will be a mixture of lecture, analysis of the maps in the atlas, and discussion of
the documents in the Sourcebook. There is relatively little reading, so I expect thorough and
thoughtful preparation, especially when examining the maps and diagrams in the atlas. The
London Readings provide additional background materials, but will not be specifically
discussed. Please bring your atlas to every class on site.
For Walks we will meet at the designated underground station and depart promptly at 9.30
am. You will probably wish to bring a small notebook. The walks take place rain or shine, so
be on time and be prepared.
Course requirements: There will be a mid-term and final exam. The exams will each include
a question which requires students to have visited the Museum of London (entry is free).
[Address: London Wall EC2 (underground stations: St Paul’s and Barbican)] In addition each
student will complete two paper/projects:
The first paper/project is a short (3 to 5 pages or approx. 1000 words) paper based on
John Stow’s Survey of London (1598). Every student will receive Stow’s description of a
single ward in the City of London, then use that as a guidebook to see what aspects of the
Stow’s city can still be seen in the modern one. The purpose of the paper is to reflect upon
what you have found to answer the question, “To what extent is the City of London a
Medieval City?”
The Historical Development of London Syllabus— page 1
The second paper/project is your chance to plan a walk in London to illustrate some topic
of interest to you. It might be a particular ethnic community, a ‘village’ within London, or the
London connected with a particular historical figure. The final product will be 5 to 7 pages
(1500 words) of narrative and analysis, plus a map showing the locations. Those with
cameras may wish to illustrate with photographs.
Basis of Course grade:
Stow project
“Inside London” project 25%
Mid-term exam
Final Exam
Class participation**
10%
20%
15%
30%
**Class participation means taking part in discussions and walks. Absences therefore may
result in the lowering of your final grade.
The Historical Development of London Syllabus— page 2
Course Outline
WEEK ONE
Lecture:
Reading:
Roman Origins
London Sourcebook, Ch. 1: Londinium: the Roman City
———
WEEK TWO
Walk:
The Roman Wall Meet at Tower Hill Underground Station
Lecture:
Reading:
Saxon London
The Times History of London, pp. 22-43. London Sourcebook, Ch. 2: Saxon
London
———
WEEK THREE
Walk:
Royal Westminster Meet at Westminster Underground Station
Lecture:
Reading:
Medieval London
The Times History of London, pp. 44-53, 138-39, 152-55, 162-63.
Assignment: Finding Stow’s London
———
WEEK FOUR
Walk:
Church and Guild: reading the Landscape of the Medieval City. Meet at
Farringdon Underground Station
Discussion: Medieval London Society
Reading: London Sourcebook, Ch. 3: Medieval London
———
WEEK FIVE
Walk:
Tudor Gentry in Legal London. Meet at Temple U’ground Stn
Lecture:
Reading:
Tudor London & the Impact of the Reformation
The Times History of London, pp. 44-65, 50- 51, 132-3, 146. London Sourcebook,
Ch. 4: Reformation in the City
Paper Due: Finding Stow’s London
———
WEEK SIX
Lecture:
Disastrous Plague, Destructive Fire
The Historical Development of London Syllabus— page 3
Reading:
The Times History of London, pp. 66-69, 168-9. London Sourcebook, Ch. 5: The
Great Plague and the Great Fire
Mid-term exam
Assignment: “Inside London” Walk Project
—Spring Break—
The Historical Development of London Syllabus— page 4
WEEK EIGHT
Walk:
Coffeehouses in the City. Meet at Bank Underground Station (Exit marked Royal
Exchange)
Lecture:
Reading:
The Growth of the West End: 17th and 18th centuries
The Times History of London, pp. 70-83, 140-43.
———
WEEK NINE
Walk:
The West End Squares Meet at St James’ Park U’ground Stat’n (Exit marked
Broadway and the Park)
Discussion: Fashionable Society in 18th-Century London
Reading: London Sourcebook, Ch. 6: Life in the Georgian City
———
WEEK TEN
Lecture:
Reading:
East End, West End: Victorian wealth & poverty
The Times History of London, pp. 84-87, 92-95, 98-107, 136-7, 144-47. London
Sourcebook,Ch. 7: The Victorian East End
Lecture:
Reading:
The Great Stink’: Disease and Pollution in 19th-Century London
The Times History of London, pp. 96-97, 134-5. London Sourcebook, Ch. 8 The
Imperial City
———
WEEK ELEVEN
Walk:
East End Labouring Poor in the Furniture Trade. Meet at Old Street Underground
Station
Lecture:
Reading:
Victorian Suburbs and the Railways
The Times History of London, pp. 88-91, 94- 97, 104-15, 156-57, 160-61.
———
WEEK TWELVE
Walk:
Victorian Village Suburb — Hampstead. Meet at Hampstead Underground Station
Discussion: Victorian Middle Class Society
Reading: London Sourcebook, Ch. 9: The Victorian Suburbs
Paper Due: “Inside London” Walk Project
———
WEEK THIRTEEN
The Historical Development of London Syllabus— page 5
Lecture:
Reading:
The War on London, 1940 to 1945
The Times History of London, pp. 118-119.
London Sourcebook, Ch. 10: London at War
Review for Final
———
FINAL WEEK
Final Exam
The Historical Development of London Syllabus— page 6