HISTORY 3400:321

SAMPLE SYLLABUS

EUROPE FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO THE RELIGIOUS WARS (1347-1610)

3400:321

Dr. Michael Levin

Office: Olin Hall 223A

Office phone: 972-7515

DESCRIPTION:

This course surveys the main events and developments in Europe from the arrival of the Black Plague (1347-1348) to the “era of religious warfare” (1610, the year the King of France was assassinated by a religious fanatic). We will explore the transition from “medieval” to “modern” Europe, and the social, religious, and intellectual movements which caused that transformation, including the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the discovery of the “New World.” We will study this period from a variety of perspectives, using a variety of sources.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

to enhance our knowledge of the history of Europe from the fourteenth through the seventeenth century

to develop skills in reading and analyzing historical sources (both primary and secondary)

to develop skills in written and oral communication

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Jonathon Zophy, A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe

Theodore Rabb, ed., Origins of the Modern West

Marvin Lunenfeld., ed., 1492: Discovery, Invasion, Encounter

Michael Alpert, ed., Two Spanish Picaresque Novels

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

geography quiz, Sep. 7 (5% of final grade)

2-4 page paper, due Oct. 3 (15% of final grade)

midterm exam, Oct. 19 (15% of final grade)

2-4 page paper, due Nov. 7 (15% of final grade)

5-8 page paper, due Dec. 7 (20% of final grade)

final exam, Dec. 10 (20% of final grade)

regular attendance and class participation (10% of final grade)

NOTES:

Attendance is REQUIRED. There will be a daily sign-in sheet, and any student with more than three unexcused absences will be dropped from the class.

Students must be in class on time. Any student who arrives more than 15 minutes late will be asked to leave, and will be marked absent. If you know you will be late due to another class, please inform me as soon as possible.

History Department policy does not allow students to withdraw from courses without penalty after the tenth week of the semester.

Students whose names do not appear on the official class list by September 15 will not be allowed to attend class or receive credit.

I take offenses involving academic dishonesty very seriously. Students who cheat on tests or plagiarize papers will, at a minimum, receive a failing grade on that assignment, and may be flunked for the entire course.

Reading assignments should be done BEFORE class meets on the day indicated, and the books/xeroxes should be brought to class.

For those who wish to turn in rough drafts of papers for me to comment on, please turn them in a week before the due date.

COURSE SCHEDULE:

Aug. 27: Introduction

Aug. 29: The Middle Ages (xerox)

Aug. 31: Europe in the Fourteenth Century (Zophy 1-27)

Sep. 3: NO CLASS-- Labor Day

Sep. 5: The Black Death (Zophy 30-32, xerox)

Sep. 7: Geography quiz; discussion of Black Plague sources

Sep. 10: Peasant Revolts and the Great Schism (Zophy 32-38, xerox)

Sep. 12: The Idea of the Renaissance (Rabb 1-19)

Sep. 14: Renaissance Florence (Zophy 59-65)

Sep. 17: Italian Renaissance Humanism (Zophy 69-82 and xerox)

Sep. 19: Artists and Patrons --videotape

Sep. 21: Discussion, artists (Rabb 205-241)

Sep. 24: The Renaissance Outside Italy (Zophy 144-164, xerox)

Sep. 26: Discussion of Rough Drafts, Paper #1

Sep. 28: Religious Dissent before Luther (Rabb 109-112, 126-130)

Oct. 1: Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation (Rabb 112-118, 130-142)

Oct. 3: John Calvin (Zophy 217-31, xerox)

DUE: Paper #1

Oct. 5: Effects of the Reformation (Rabb 118-125, 143-153)

Oct 8: Counter/Catholic Reformation (Zophy 257-271, xerox)

Oct. 10: Voyages of Discovery (Lunenfeld 3-10, 107-125)

Oct. 12: Conquest and Settlement (Lunenfeld 159-174)

Oct. 15: Aftermath of the Discovery (Lunenfeld 289-308)

Oct. 17: Discussion, New World sources

Oct. 19: MIDTERM EXAM

Oct. 22: Facts of Life

Oct. 24: Quality of Life

Oct. 26: NO CLASS

Oct. 29: Discussion-- Lazarillo de Tormes

Oct. 31: Early Modern City Life and the Rise of the Merchant (Rabb 163-176, 179-183)

Nov. 2: Women in the Early Modern Period (xerox)

Nov. 5: Jews, Moslems and the Inquisition (xerox)

Nov. 7: Science and the Scientific Revolution (Rabb 253-271, 282-284)

DUE: Paper #2

Nov. 9: Magic and Witchcraft (Zophy 303-305, Rabb 153-155)

Nov. 12: Art and Architecture (Zophy 85-106)

Nov. 14: Art and Architecture cont. (Zophy 109-120)

Nov. 16: Warfare, Soldiers and Castles (Rabb 69-92, 101-108)

Nov. 19: Princes and the Rise of the Nation-State (Rabb 21-37, 46-49)

Nov. 21: The Habsburg Bid for Power (Zophy 284-289, Rabb 49-50)

Nov. 23: NO CLASS- Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 26: Decline of Spain (xerox)

Nov. 28: The Rise of England: Henry VIII and Elizabeth I (Zophy 232-241 and 246-250, Rabb 50-51)

Nov. 30: Elizabeth and James I (Rabb 52-53)

Dec. 3: The Wars of Religion and the Rise of Absolutism in France (Zophy 277-283, xerox)

Dec. 5: A Look Ahead

Dec. 7: Review session

DUE: Paper #3

FINAL EXAM: Monday Dec. 10, 12:00-1:55, regular room