Europe in the Modern World (201-2-20)
Instructors
Robin Duffin Bates
847/467-4839
Harris 242
I am a historian of Modern Europe, specializing in France and the francophone world, especially the cultural and social implications of the transformation of politics during and after the Revolution of 1789. In 2015, I received my PhD from the University of Chicago.
Meeting Info
Annenberg Hall G15: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
Topic: Europe in the Modern World
In this course, we will investigate the era of earth-shaking historical transformations that began with the revolutionary moment of the late 1700s and whose implications continue to play out today. The sequence of events unleashed by these political and industrial revolutions overthrew the old monarchical social order of nobles and peasants to redraw the map of the world and create much of our ongoing social reality: capitalism and socialism; imperialism and national liberation movements; fascism/Nazism and liberal democracy; feminism, conservatism, racism, nationalism, and the very idea of revolution itself. Above all, this course is about power - who has been able to seize it and how they have done so, who has been subordinated by it and how they have responded.
Learning Objectives
You will learn to: 1) Identify, explain and critically interrogate the historical actors, events and ideas that have shaped modern European history; 2) Assess competing explanations of historical transformations, showing an awareness of how claims are supported by evidence and how arguments are structured by analytic categories; 3) Formulate your own original arguments based on your independent interpretation of sources.
Evaluation Method
Class Participation: 25%, Three reading response assignments: 15%, Essay assignment: 30%, Take-Home Final Exam: 30%
Class Materials (Required)
All the assigned readings will be uploaded on Canvas
Class Notes
History Area(s) of Concentration: European
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Fri 9:00AM - 9:50AM
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Harris Hall L04: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Harris Hall L04: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-325: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L04: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM