HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 1 HIST2300 Early Modern European History, 1500-1789 Historical Studies Program Grenfell Campus Memorial University of Newfoundland Fall Semester, 2014 Course Outline Instructor: Dr. Edwin Bezzina office: Arts Wing, Room A332T e-mail: ebezzina@grenfell.mun.ca (I have a policy of responding to student e-mails within twenty-four hours, usually sooner) office phone number: (709) 637-2191 website: http://www2.swgc.mun.ca/~ebezzina/bezzina_courses.htm Office hours: Tuesdays, 10:30a.m.-1:30p.m.; Wednesdays, 12:40p.m.-1:30p.m.; Fridays, 10:30a.m.-1:30p.m. Class: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 2:30p.m.-3:20p.m.; room 326 In this course, we study key events and developments in this period such as Europe s Reformations, colonization and imperialism, and the Enlightenment. We also will explore relations between social groups, between the sexes, issues of religious conflict and coexistence, the exercise of authority and the relationship between ruler and ruled, as well as the dilemma between science and religion. As a special focus topic, we will investigate the connection between the Protestant Reformation and social revolution, revealing the power of ideas to trigger historical change. In wider terms, many of the issues that appeared in Early Modern Europe resonate in contemporary societies. Early Modern Europe stands at a key turning point in the history of the West. While Europe to some degree continued to manifest its medieval heritage in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, in many ways this period constitutes a change in direction, one that would determine to a considerable degree the shape that modern Europe would become. Much of this course speaks to broader issues that have great relevance in modern societies, issues of race, the development of notions of human rights, the intermingling of cultures, the merging of peoples, and the interplay between ideas and history. There are seven parts to this course: Part One: Foundations: the Individual, the Family, Society, and Government Part Two: Political Power and Culture in an Era of Renaissance Part Three: The Protestant Reformation and the German Peasants War Part Four: Contact and Confrontation between Europe and Non-European Peoples Part Five: The Body Physical, Social, and Political
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 2 Part Six: Science, Religion, and the Enlightenment Part VII: Changes in the European Economy and the Path to Globalization Goals of the course i) to help students understand a set of themes about the history of Early Modern Europe; ii) to develop students knowledge of how to work with primary historical documents; iii) to show how historians work, how they construct an argument, how they use evidence, how they explain causation, etc.; and iv) to develop students ability to construct a coherent argument and present it in written and verbal form. Please note that HIST2300 has been designated as a writing course. Course Textbooks Wiesner-Hanks, Merry E. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789. Second Edition. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013. Baylor, Michael G. The German Reformation and the Peasants War: A Brief History with Documents. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin s Press, 2012. Voltaire. Treatise on Tolerance and Other Writings. Ed. Simon Harvey. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000. In addition, the Wiesner-Hanks text has a companion website. Access it through the address www.cambridge.org/wiesnerhanks. The site has some primary historical documents that I will be using in this course. Course Website I will be using the course website to post more assignment details, guidelines for the readings, and exam guidelines. The website can be accessed via my webpage. All the files are saved in PDF format.
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 3 Course Requirements Course Requirements at a Glance: value Due date class participation 15% n/a two quizzes 5 Friday, October 17, 2014; Thursday, October 30, 2014 introduction and annotated bibliography for the 5% Friday, September 19, 2014 documents analysis documents analysis 15% Friday, October 10, 2014 proposal and annotated bibliography for the research 5% Thursday, October 23, 2014 paper research paper 30% Tuesday, November 18, 2014 final exam 25% to be assigned Total 100% Course Requirements in Detail: i) Class Participation value: 15% While students are welcome to make comments during the lectures, the discussion classes will be the main avenue for student participation. Please come to class with a good grasp of the readings. I am open to a wide variety of perspectives and opinions, so please do not be shy. You do not have to answer every question asked, but enough to be an active member of the class and to work well in your discussion groups. I will be using the course website to give students reading guidelines to provide a sense of what to look for in the readings. ii) Two Quizzes value: 5% in total There will be two quizzes in this course. The quizzes will all be based on the Wiesner-Hanks textbook and for the quiz questions I will use the questions that I provide in the reading guidelines for the class in particular (specifically, the relevant chapter reading for the class prior to the date of the quiz). The dates of the quizzes are as follows: -Friday, October 17, 2014 -Thursday, October 30, 2014
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 4 iii) Documents Analysis details: introduction and annotated bibliography: length: about 1-2 pages value: 5% due date: Friday, September 19, 2014 essay itself: length: five pages (max. 1,250 words) value: 15% due date: Friday, October 10, 2014 This first essay involves writing a comparative analysis of two primary historical documents from the Wiesner-Hanks collection of online documents. Try to choose documents that relate to a common theme. The purpose of the assignment is to analyze the documents, connecting them to their historical context, and comparing and contrasting them. This paper will require a bit of secondary research on the historical context (about two or three secondary sources). Biographies of the individuals or authors involved are helpful, as well as more general studies of medieval culture, society, and politics during this period. You could start with the bibliography found in the relevant chapter in the Wiesner-Hanks textbook. Remember, however, that the focus is on analyzing the documents; please do not write a research paper. Further guidelines and advice will be distributed in class. I would be happy to suggest possible sources. Be sure to avoid the use of encyclopedias and general-level textbooks and be very careful with material found on websites. The essay must follow proper essay format (that includes making sure that there is a thesis statement in the introduction). Further details about this will be distributed in class. Let me stress that I am more than happy to discuss your topic with you. I urge you to come see me during my office hours or by separate appointment. iv) Research Paper details: proposal and annotated bibliography: length: 2-3 pages value: 5% due date: Thursday, October 23, 2014 essay itself: length: 8-10 pages (max. 2,000-2,500 words) value: 30% due date: Tuesday, November 18, 2014 This assignment involves writing a research paper on a subject that is pertinent to one of the discussion topics. You must use material(s) from the relevant discussion class, and your bibliography must include one primary source (letter, excerpt from a treatise, notarial document, etc.) and at least seven secondary sources.
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 5 Each student also must hand in a proposal and annotated bibliography. The proposal will outline the chosen topic and some of the themes and arguments that you would like to develop. The bibliography will list the primary source as well as the seven secondary sources (be they books, articles, etc.) that you plan to use, along with two or three sentences of details on each source. These details should include a brief description of the source s contents as well as the ways in which the source will contribute to your paper. For the writing assignments in this course, please familiarize yourself with the university regulations regarding plagiarism (I am required to report such cases to the Head of the Division of Arts, in the interests of maintaining a level playing field among the students). v) Final Exam value: 25% Students with diverse learning styles and needs are more than welcome in this course. In particular, if you have a disability or health consideration that may require special arrangements, please do not hesitate to let me know. You also should contact the Student Services Office as soon as possible. You may want to make an appointment with Lorna Payne (637-6268). Course Schedule Thursday, September 4, 2014: Introduction to the Course Part One: Foundations: the Individual, the Family, Society, and Government Friday, September 5, 2014: Lecture: Introduction to the Subject of Early Modern Europe Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Introduction, pp. 1-15 Tuesday, September 9, 2014: Lecture: Europe in the Mid-Fifteenth Century Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 1, pp. 18-48 Thursday, September 11, 2014: Lecture: Life Cycles Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 2, pp. 50-78
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 6 Friday, September 12, 2014: Lecture: Family, Kin, and Community Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 2, pp. 78-84 Tuesday, September 16, 2014: Discussion Class: Women, Marriage, and the Family Readings: review materials from September 5 th, September 9 th, September 11 th and September 12 th read Wiesner-Hanks primary historical documents: Ch. 2: docs. 14, 16-19, and 21 Part Two: Political Power and Culture in an Era of Renaissance Thursday, September 18, 2014: Lecture: The Exercise of Political Power Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 3, pp. 86-124 Friday, September 19, 2014: Lecture: The Unfolding of the European Renaissance Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 4, pp. 126-160 *****introduction and annotated bibliography for documents analysis due today Tuesday, September 23, 2014: Discussion Class: a Focus on Renaissance Humanism and Culture Readings: review materials from September 18 th and September 19 th read Wiesner-Hanks primary historical documents, Ch. 4, docs. 9, 11-13 Part Three: The Protestant Reformation and the German Peasants War Thursday, September 25, 2014: Lecture: Europe s Reformations: The Early Phase Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 5, pp. 162-172 Friday, September 26, 2014: Lecture: The German Peasants War: Historical Background, Part I Readings: Baylor, The German Reformation and the Peasants War, Foreword, p. vii; Preface, pp. ix-x; Introduction, pp. 1-31 Tuesday, September 30, 2014: The German Peasants War: Discussion Class, Part I Reading: review material from September 25 th and September 26th read Baylor, The German Reformation and the Peasants War, Ch. 1, pp. 35-42 Thursday, October 2, 2014: Lecture: The German Peasants War: Historical Background, Part II Readings: Baylor, The German Reformation and the Peasants War, Ch. 2, pp. 43-73
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 7 Friday, October 3, 2014: Lecture: The German Peasants War: Historical Background, Part III Readings: Baylor, The German Reformation and the Peasants War, Ch. 3, pp. 74-105 Tuesday, October 7, 2014: Discussion Class: Interpretations of the Two Movements Readings: review materials from October 2 nd and October 3 rd read Baylor, The German Reformation and the Peasants War, Ch. 4, pp. 106-142 Thursday, October 9, 2014: Lecture: Religious War, Conflict, and Coexistence Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 5, pp. 172-197 Friday, October 10, 2014: Discussion Class: The Wars of Religion in France Readings review materials from October 9 th read St. Bartholomew Day s Massacre Documents, in David Potter, The French Wars of Religion: Selected Documents (Houndsmill, Hampshire: Macmillan, 1997), pp. 137-150 *****documents analysis due today Tuesday, October 14, 2014: no class today (Thanksgiving break) Part Four: Contact and Confrontation between Europe and Non-European Peoples Thursday, October 16, 2014: Lecture: Economic and Technological Change Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 6, pp. 200-234 Friday, October 17, 2014: Lecture: The Expansion of Europe Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 7, pp. 236-274 ****first quiz today Tuesday, October 21, 2014: Discussion Class: An Emphasis on Cross-Cultural Contact Readings: review materials from October 16 th and October 17 th read Wiesner-Hanks primary historical documents, Ch. 7, docs. 10, 14, and 15 Part Five: The Body Physical, Social, and Political Thursday, October 23, 2014: Lecture: Changing Ideas about the Physical Body and the Self Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 8, pp. 279-311 *****proposal and annotated bibliography for research paper due today
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 8 Friday, October 24, 2014: Discussion Class: A Focus on the Body, Medical Practice, and Hospitals Readings review materials from October 23 rd read Wiesner-Hanks primary historical documents, Ch. 8, docs. 12-15 Tuesday, October 28, 2014: Lecture: Changes in the European State System, Part I Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 9, pp. 314-346 Thursday, October 30, 2014: Lecture: Changes in the European State System, Part II Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 9, pp. 346-361 *****second quiz today Friday, October 31, 2014: Discussion Class: A Focus on the English Civil War Readings review materials from October 28 th and October 30 th read Wiesner-Hanks primary historical documents, Ch. 9, docs. 2, 8-10, 12 Part Six: Science, Religion, and the Enlightenment Tuesday, November 4, 2014: Essay-Writing Discussion Class: Historical Reasoning There are no readings for this class. Thursday, November 6, 2014: Essay-Writing Discussion Class: Forming an Argument There are no readings for this class. Friday, November 7, 2014: Lecture: Science and Enlightenment Reason Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 10, pp. 364-405 Tuesday, November 11, 2014: No class today (Remembrance Day) Thursday, November 13, 2014: Lecture: Religion and Religious Change in Europe Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 11, pp. 408-449 Friday, November 14, 2014: Discussion Class: A Focus on Oroonoko Readings: review materials from November 7 th and November 13 th read Wiesner-Hanks primary historical documents, Ch. 11, doc. 12 Tuesday, November 18, 2014: Lecture: The Historical Background to the Treatise on Tolerance Readings: Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance, Introduction, pp. vi-xix, xxiv-xxv *****research paper due today Thursday, November 20, 2014: Discussion Class: Voltaire s Treatise on Tolerance, Part I Readings: Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance, pp. 3-63
HIST2300 COURSE OUTLINE 9 Friday, November 21, 2014: Discussion Class: Voltaire s Treatise on Tolerance, Part II Readings: Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance, pp. 64-135 Part VII: Changes in the European Economy and the Path to Globalization Tuesday, November 25, 2014: Lecture: Economic and Technological Change; Early Industrialism Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 12, pp. 452-487 Thursday, November 27, 2014: Lecture: The Next Phase of European Expansion, Conquest, and Settlement Readings: Wiesner-Hanks, Early Modern Europe, Ch. 13, pp. pp. 490-534 Friday, November 28, 2014: Discussion Class: French Expansion and the Enlightenment Readings review materials from November 25 th and November 27 th read Wiesner-Hanks primary historical documents, Ch 13, doc. 4 Tuesday, December 2, 2014: Conclusion and Review for the Final Exam There are no readings for this class.