SAMPLE SYLLABUS

IMPERIAL SPAIN, 1469-1700

493/593

Dr. Michael Levin

Office: Olin 223a

Office phone: 972-7515

E-mail: mlevin@uakron.edu

DESCRIPTION:

This class will examine the history of Spain during its sudden rise to power in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and its subsequent decline in the late seventeenth century. We will use art and literature as well as traditional historical sources to explore the politics, religion, and culture of early modern Spain and its empire. Some of the questions we will look at are: How did Spain become an imperial power? What effect did the acquisition of an empire have on Spain? What was life like in early modern Spain? Why did Spanish power decline (or did it decline at all)?

REQUIRED TEXTS: (available at the campus book store):

J. H. Elliott, Imperial Spain, 1469-1714

Geoffrey Parker, Philip II

Mary Elizabeth Perry, Gender and Disorder in Early Modern Seville

Michael Alpert, ed., Two Spanish Picaresque Novels

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Geography quiz, January 29 (5% of total grade)

Book review, 2-3 pages, due February 19 (10%)

Midterm exam, March 2 (15%)

Final exam, date TBA (20%)

Oral presentation, 10 minutes (10%)

Annotated bibliography, based on presentation (10%)

8-10 page research paper, due last class (20%)

Class attendance and participation (10%)

GRADING SCALE:

A: 93-100

A-: 90-92

B+: 87-89

B: 83-86

B-: 80-82

C+: 77-79

C: 73-77

C-: 70-72

D+: 67-69

D: 63-66

D-: 60-62

F: 0-59

Graduate students will make an oral presentation, write a 5-6 page annotated bibliography, two book reviews, and a 15-20 page research paper.

NOTES:

Late papers will be penalized a grade per day of lateness.

Attendance is REQUIRED: students who miss more than six classes will fail the course.

Students who must miss a class are still responsible for the material covered in that class (so get notes from someone!)

Reading assignments should be done BEFORE class. Please bring the book with you to class.

Make-up tests must be taken within a week of a missed test.

There will be no extra credit.

Students whose names do not appear on the official class list by February 1 will not be allowed to attend the class.

Students may withdraw without penalty through the second week of class. After the midpoint of the semester, students must obtain the signatures of both an adviser and the instructor in order to withdraw.

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

COURSE SCHEDULE:

Jan. 17: Introduction

Jan. 19: Medieval Spain

Jan. 22: Ferdinand and Isabella (Elliott, pp. 13-44, and xerox)

Jan. 24: The End of the Reconquest of Spain (Elliott, pp. 45-76, and xerox)

Jan. 26: The Expulsion of the Jews (xerox)

Jan. 29: The Ordering of Spain (Elliott, pp. 77-129)

Geography quiz

Jan. 31: The Catholic Kings and Europe (Elliott, pp. 130-144)

Feb. 2: Court Culture and the Spanish Renaissance (xerox)

Feb. 5: Charles V and the Habsburg Monarchy (Elliott, pp. 144-164)

Feb. 7: The Comunero Revolt (xerox)

Feb. 9: Charles and the Idea of Empire (xerox)

Feb. 12: Columbus and the New World (xerox)

Feb. 14: Conquest and Settlement (xerox)

Feb. 16: The Debate about the American Empire (xerox)

Feb. 19: Philip II (Parker, chapters 1-5)

DUE: Book review

Feb. 21: Spain and Europe I (Parker, chapters 6-8)

Feb. 23: Spain and Europe II (Parker, chapters 9-12)

Feb. 26: Philip II and Government (xerox)

Feb. 28: Philip II and the Black Legend of Spain (xerox)

March 2: MIDTERM EXAM

March 5: Early Modern Spanish Economy (Elliott, pp. 181-211)

March 7: Life in the Cities (xerox)

March 9: Life in the Country (xerox)

March 12: Social Class in Spain

March 14: Church and Clergy

March 16: Discussion: Lazarillo de Tormes

March 19-24: SPRING BREAK (read Perry)

March 26: Spanish Catholicism I (xerox)

March 28: Spanish Catholicism II (xerox)

March 30: Protestantism and Mysticism (xerox)

April 2: The Inquisition (xerox)

April 4: Women and Religion

April 6: Discussion: Gender and Disorder in Early Modern Seville

April 9: Philip III and the Duke of Lerma (Elliott, pp. 285-320)

April 11: Philip IV (xerox)

April 13: Spanish Baroque Culture (xerox)

April 16: Cervantes (xerox)

April 18: Theater I

April 20: Theater II (read Lope de Vega, “Fuenteovejuna,” on reserve in the library)

April 23: Spanish Art and Architecture I

April 25: Spanish Art and Architecture II

April 27: The Revolutions of 1640 (Elliott, pp. 321-360)

April 30: The Late Seventeenth Century and the Question of Decline (xerox)

May 2: A Look Ahead: The End of the Habsburgs

May 4: Review