“European History”
| Instructor: | Professor Dr. Zhou Hong Department of European Studies, |
| Course: | European History |
| Date: | Monday, 1.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. |
| Prerequisites: | Introduction to History |
| Level: | MA. and Ph.D students |
| Credits: | 3 |
| Course Syllabus: The course aims to give students an insight into the historical developments up to the Second World War from three main distinct perspectives: from a historical, social and political point of view. Students are to grasp the fact that the history of Course Content: This course focuses on the history of The underlying rationale behind the course is based on two main assumptions: o European history should be considered as a continuous process in which central authorities impose their will evermore forcefully on society; but society fights back; o European history should be considered as an ever-changing balance between unity and diversity, between centripetal and centrifugal forces. The outcome is a fundamental diversity. This diversity is An overview of the topics covered I ) ANTIQUITY As the history of antiquity is only the point of departure of this course, we will only cover it to a limited extent. Social and economic elements are thus placed under the heading of political perspective. Cultural perspective The philosophical revolution Hellenism Early Christianity Political perspective City-States Democracy in Roman Empire Roman legal system Invasions and the decline of the II. MIDDLE AGES (500-1500) Cultural Perspective Carolingian Renaissance Christianisation Golden Age (12th-13th century) Rediscovery of Greek Philosophy: the synthesis with Christian doctrines Architectural Developments from Roman to Gothic styles Invention of book printing Official religious doctrine vs. sects Byzantine vs. Western Christianity Establishment of Universities Renaissance Political Perspective ·Rise and Fall of the Carolingian Empire ·Development of the feudal system (Chivalry, etc.) ·Clash between secular and papal power ·Mediterranean World: Arabs and Crusaders ·Rise of the city ·Internal European wars ·The development of dynastic organisation of power ·A State of the Estates? ·Beginning of “modern” diplomacy Socio-Economic Perspective ·Development of market-places / the early market system ·Cities as economic centers ·Agricultural revolution ·Coins and coining ·The development of transport systems III. Early Modern Times (1500-1648) Cultural Perspective Reformation Counter-Reformation Baroque Rationalism and Empirism Early Modern Science Raison d’état and the doctrine of state sovereignty Grotius and international law Political Perspective Building of empires Wars of Religion Early absolutism An uneven development: Eastern + Western Power struggles in Birth of parliaments Spread of modern diplomacy Treaty of Social economic perspective Discovery of the new world Development of banking system-dev. of paper money Trade outside “Revolution of Diligence” The European demographical “Sonderweg”: the European family pattern IV. European order of 1648-until the French Revolution Cultural Perspective Newton and the victory of Modern Science Enlightenment Agnosticism First Novels Divide between North and South Declarations of Rights of Man Development of the public sphere: role of the press Political Perspective New military techniques Varieties of Absolutism State-formation and state of law Development of European system of states Russia enters the European Stage Balance of power politics Colonialism Rise of Lagging behind: Stagnation of the Independence of the former American Colonies French revolution Socio-economic perspective Mercantilism Colonial trade/slave trade Rise of the Bourgeoisie From trade to entrepreneurial capitalism Development of the modern (bureaucratic) organisation Technical revolutions: mechanical weaving and spinning and invention of the steam engine Beginning of industrialisation Development of a regime of time V. From the French Rev. to WWI Cultural perspective Romantic movement Development of modern historical consciousness Birth of Nationalism Photography and Film Realism in the Novel Positivism Darwinism Decadence Political perspective Napoleonic Wars Congress of Unification of The ideological “annexation” of the idea of Empires and Nation States Imperialism Rise of political Ideologies End of Inner European Wars Spread of parliamentary democracy: party politics, inclusive suffrage and mass democracy Gradual breakdown of the concert system: Allies / Axis Powers WW I Socio-Economic Perspective Industrialization Urbanisation Development of the working class and class conflict Problem of poverty: first systems of social security Women’s liberation movement New means of communication Standardisation of products Technological revolutions: Combustion engine and Electricity VII. From WWI to WWII Cultural Perspective Secularisation ·Futurism ·Modernism The “Einsteinian” turn in Physics ·Relativity theory and beyond ·The impact of American culture Political Perspective\ • • Treaty of • Dissolution of Habsburg Empire • A new map of • • Russian Revolution • Rise of Totalitarian Regimes Socio-Economic Perspective “Small and great“ depressions ·Fordism &·Mass Production ·Invention of Telephone and radio: the rise of the mass public Methods of Assessment: · Written test Reading List: ¨ Palmer R & Colton J (2000): History of the modern world (9th edition) ¨ From Greek Mythology: The myth of Kronos & Zeus ¨ Aristotle, On the Heavens (Book II) ¨ Volume I of Coppelston, Frederik (1993): History of Philosophy (9 Volume Set) (Volume 1: ¨ Norberg-Schulz, C. (1993): Meaning in Western Architecture, Rizzoli: ¨ D. Watkin (1996): History of Western Architecture, Laurence King: ¨ J. Hale (1994): The Civilization of Europe in the Renaissance, ¨ Opello W, C & Rosow, S. J. (1999): The nation-state and global order, A historical introduction to contemporary politics, ¨ Elias, Norbert (2000): The Civilizing Process. Sociogenetic and Psychogenetic Investigations, Blackwell, ¨ Merriman, J. (1996): Modern Europe – from the Renaissance to the Present, W.W. Norton & Company: ¨ Janson, H. W. and A. F. Janson (1987): A Basic History of Art, Prentice-Hall: ¨ Palmer R & Colton J (2000): History of the modern world (9th edition) ¨ Weber (1920): Protestant Ethic ¨ Hamilton K and Langhorne, R. (1995): The practice of diplomacy: its evolution, theory and administration, Routledge, ¨ Le Goff, J. (1980): Time, Work and Culture in the Middle Ages, University Press: ¨ Palisca C. V. (1968): Baroque Music, Prentice Hall: Englw. Cliffs ¨ Craig G. and George (1999): Force and Statecraft, Diplomatic Problems of our time, ¨ Hamilton, K and Langhorne R. (1995) The practice of diplomacy: its evolution, theory + administration ¨ Landes, D.S (1998):The wealth and Poverty of Nations. Why some are so rich and some are so poor, ¨ Stearns, P. and Chapman, H. (1992): European Society in Upheaval, ¨ Ian Watt (1996): Myths of Individualism, UP: ¨ Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens (Paris 1790) ¨ Kennedy, Paul (1987): The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Challenge and Military Conflict from 1500-2000, Random House, ¨ Anderson, B. (1984): Imagined Communities. Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism, Verso, ¨ Schulze, H. (1996): States, Nations and Nationalism. From the Middle Ages to the Present. Blackwell, ¨ Barraclough, G. (1964): An Introduction into Contemporary History, Harmondsworth, Penguin (From the European Balance of Power to World Politics), pp. 65-124. ¨ Kennedy, P. (1987): The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Challenge and Military Conflict from 1500-2000, ¨ Holborn, H. (1960): World War, World Settlement and the Aftermath, in: Lederer I.J., The Versailles Settlement – Was it Foredoomed to Failure, ¨ McDougall, W.A. (1979): Political Economy versus National Souvereignity, in; Journal of Modern History ¨ Langhorne Richard (1981): The Collapse of the Concert of ¨ Theweleit, K. (1987): Male Fantasies : Male Bodies : Psychoanalyzing the White Terror (Theory and History of Literature, Vol 23); | |