HI1207 Europe c.1500-1700: Power and Belief
Module Organiser: Dr. Graeme Murdock
Duration: Hilary Term
Contact hours: 2 lectures per week and 6 tutorials over the course of the term
Weighting: 10 ECTS
Assessment: 20% Essay; 80% Examination
This module covers the intellectual, social and political history of Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the early sixteenth century reformers sought to revive their states, communities and churches. Ideas about reform circulated widely thanks to print technology. Religious divisions as well as competition for power and territory led to prolonged periods of conflict between the Habsburgs and Ottomans, during the French Civil Wars, the Dutch Revolt and the Thirty Years’ War. Some states battled for survival in the face of powerful neighbours, while others gained new territory in Europe as well as colonies and trading posts in the Americas and in Asia. By 1700 Europe perhaps looked more modern than medieval. However, early modern Europeans had only slowly stopped burning witches who were thought to be in league with the devil.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Outline chronologically key events and developments in the history of early-modern Europe
- Assess the causes and consequences during this period of the Reformation
- Discuss the core features of European society during the early modern period
- Analyse the impact of different aspects of political, social and cultural development on early-modern Europe
- Undertake a basic analysis and evaluation of selected primary sources in translation relating to sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European history
- Present and discuss in written and oral format analysis of key questions relating to the history of Europe during the early modern period.