Time Schedule:
Mary R O'Neil
HSTEU 302
Seattle Campus
Political, social, economic, and cultural history from the Peace of Westphalia to the fall of Napoleon.
Class description
This course surveys European history in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, from the Thirty Years’ War and English Civil War (or Puritan Revolution) through the French Revolution of 1789. It will provide a broad overview of these centuries and a solid introduction to central issues and themes in the history of Europe. Major currents in intellectual history, the from Scientific Revolution to Enlightenment and Romanticism, will be examined in relation to political and social developments. Political theory, starting with John Locke, and institutional structures associated with absolutist governments on the continent, and with constitutional monarchy in England, provide a central focus. The course concludes with the revolutionary decade in France, the career of Napoleon and the restoration of monarchies after 1815.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Lecture, using slides at times. Once or twice a week there will be in-class discussion of assigned readings (since there are no sections). A few one page response papers will be assigned during the quarter.
Recommended preparation
No prerequisites, but any background in European history is useful.
Class assignments and grading
Requirements: Midterm, Final exam, two short papers (3-4 and 5-7 page) also several short response papers on certain assigned readings.
First paper: topics on Locke’s Second Treatise of Government Second paper: topics on Enlightenment, Rousseau or French Revolution
Books: Textbook: Palmer& Colton History of the Modern World Vol. I. To 1815 Note on this book: UBS has ordered the most recent edition which is the 10th edition, and costs $78 new. Earlier editions, especially the 8th and 9th editions, are available on-line and are OK to use in the course. John Locke, Second Treatise of Government Descartes, Discourse on Method Margaret Jacob, The Enlightenment: A Brief History with Documents Voltaire, Candide (edited by Daniel Gordon) Rousseau, The Essential Rousseau (Discourse on Origins of Inequality) Lynn Hunt & Jack Censer, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution Optional/Recommended: Edmund Burke Reflections on the Revolution in France
Grading of the above assignments, with credit for discussion participation
