Europe Divided, c. 1480-1620

Overview

Overview

This module explores the history of Europe during the sixteenth century. It assesses the era of Europe’s Renaissance and Reformation, and considers efforts to revive European culture, religious life, politics, and society. It examines the impact of reform movements, analysing how cultural divisions and competition for power led to conflict within European societies and between European states. It covers a long sixteenth century, taking the 1492 defeat of the last emir of Granada as a point of departure and the second defenestration of Prague in 1618 as a moment of culmination and conclusion.

The module covers all of Europe’s major states from the Ottoman empire to Tudor England and considers European engagement with the rest of the world. Lectures and tutorials will focus on key moments to reflect on the wider changes that shaped the sixteenth century from 31 October 1517 in Wittenberg to 24/25 August 1572 in Paris. Lectures and tutorials will highlight important authors (including Niccolò Machiavelli and Desiderius Erasmus) and key historiographical texts to allow for discussion of political and cultural change across the sixteenth century in Europe.

Time, Date, and Place

This lecture-only module comprises of one lecture per week over one term, commencing the week beginning 22 September 2025. Lectures take place on the Trinity Campus.