EUROPEAN 100

Europe and the World


Please note: this is archived course information from 2018 for EUROPEAN 100.

Description

An introduction to the study of European culture, with focus on various ideas of Europe and Europe’s global influence. The course content is organised around historical periods and major themes: linguistic and ethnic identities; religious and intellectual traditions; the scientific and industrial revolutions; urbanisation and mass entertainment; sociopolitical developments from the French Revolution to the great wars and totalitarianism of the twentieth century. The varied content of the course is enriched with contributions by specialist guest lecturers from several disciplines in the Faculty of Arts (Anthropology, French, German, History and Political Studies).

Objectives

Ideas about Europe will be examined critically through a programme of lectures, images, readings and tutorials. Upon successful completion of the course the student should be able to

  • Understand the idea of Europe as a dynamic cultural construct that reflects different historical trends and ideologies
  • Outline trends in the cultural history of Europe with reference to historical precedents, events and figures
  • Demonstrate critical thinking about Europe and about his / her relationship to Europe and things European
  • Recognise the Us / Other dichotomy implicit in Europe across the centuries and evident in current events
  • Recognise and critique the conflicting tendencies (both historical and contemporary) in Europe of integration and separatism
  • Recognise effects of Europe’s global reach and influence and how Europe in turn has changed through contacts with the rest of the world

Availability 2018

Semester 1

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Dr Mark Swift

Reading/Texts

The primary text for the course is Peter Rietbergen, Europe: A Cultural History, Routledge: London and New York, 2015 (3rd edition); book chapters and speciality articles are also used for some topics.

Assessment

Coursework + exam

Points

EUROPEAN 100: 15 points