DISTANCE EDUCATION

This course is offered in distance education format. There are no synchronous meetings.

Course Synopsis:

This course examines the world-changing developments that took place in the early modern period, ca 1350-1800. During this course we will examine political, social, and economic aspects of early modern Europe. We will study the demographic makeup of Europe and learn how the population mostly stayed the same until the mid-1700s. We will examine the changing world-view during the Renaissance and how the Reformations challenged traditional religion. We will discuss the European colonization of the Americas and the consequences this had both for Europe and the New World. We will examine the economic thinking behind the overseas trade and the exploitation of other continents. We will get to know the scientific discoveries made in the period and find out how these challenged and ultimately changed people’s world-view. We will examine the Enlightenment and how thinkers developed ideas of universal rights. We will analyze the agricultural and industrial changes that created the foundation for the modern western society we live in today.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Outline and summarize the major changes and events that took place in the period 1350-1800 and explain the impact these changes have had globally;
2. Place events of the early modern world in a chronology and identify the links between events: both causal effects as well as more complex interconnections;
3. Outline the main facts and explanations of an historical event and recognize that there may be several interpretations of the same event;
4. Differentiate between primary and secondary sources and formulate the issues related to using primary sources (such as biases, contrasting perspectives, when they were written, etc.);
5. Identify scholarly sources suitable for an academic paper and develop a bibliography by using the Chicago reference system;
6. Identify the thesis of a scholarly article and describe this in writing; and
7. Narrow down a research topic for a research paper.

Methods of Evaluation and Weights:

1. Primary Source Discussions - 15%
2. Quizzes - 20%
3. Research Project Log - 5%
4. Research Project Draft - 10%
5. Research Project - 20%
6. Final Exam - 30%

Texts and/or Resources Required:

TBA

*Please note:  This is a preliminary web course description only.  The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description.  The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester.