HIS 234 - Early Modern Europe 1350-1650

4 credits (Spring)

Before 1350, it is arguable that “Europeans” did not exist. This course scrutinizes the historical forces that turned a geographical location into a powerful idea. We will explore the impact of the renaissance, the religious reformations and destruction of “Christendom” after 1517, the increased contact with Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and the development of new technologies and scientific methods. Did these movements merely create Europe’s sense of its cultural superiority, or did they provide real commercial and military advantages in the century that followed?

Prerequisite: HIS 100 or second-year standing. Option of doing some reading in French, Latin, or German.
Note: Plus-2 option available.
Instructor: Pollnitz