HI113: Europe in the Making 1450–1800

'Europe in the Making 1450-1800' is a core required module for first-year single-honours History students, and an optional module for joint-degree students. It provides a broad introduction to the so-called Early Modern period, and how that period has been conceived of by historians. Students on the module are encouraged to reflect upon notions of European identity in the past and present, and on how historical concepts of ‘Europe’ and ‘Europeans’ inform contemporary ideas about these concepts. Another important aspect of study is to understand the encounters between Europeans and non-Europeans, and the relationships between them. The module involves a weekly lecture and seminar, and students will be assisted to develop their skills in using library resources, in managing their own learning and preparing for seminars, and in seminar communication (listening and talking, and group work), seminar preparation and managing own learning, and group work. There will be opportunities for the application of knowledge and skills that have been learnt to the analysis of historiographical debates.

Aims and outcomes

Understand some of the different ways in which Europe and the Early Modern Period were conceived in the past and by historians.
Understand the encounters between Europeans and non-Europeans, and the relationships between them.
Understand and apply key historical and historiographical terms.
Describe the ways the Renaissance and Enlightenment shaped European thought.
Use library resources (including online journals, electronic and online resources).
Manage own learning for and in seminars, communicate with others, and engage in group work.
Analyse primary and secondary written sources.

Indicative readings

Butters, Humfrey, ‘Europe in 1500’, and Gerritsen, Anne and Anthony McFarlane, ‘Beyond Europe c. 1500’, in Beat Kümin (ed.), The European World (4th edition, London, 2023)
Cameron, Euan, ‘Editor's Introduction’, in Euan Cameron (ed.), Early Modern Europe (Oxford, 1999)