Overview

The course surveys the most significant political, economic, social, religious, and intellectual trends in European history from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the mid-eighteenth century. The aim of the course is to provide both a description and an explanation of the forces that shaped the birth of the modern world during the so-called Early Modern era, a time period that witnessed the rapid growth of commercial capitalism, the development of the nation state, the flourishing of such intellectual movements as the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, and the spread of European industry, commerce, and culture to both the New World and the continents of Africa and Asia.

The course textbook, A History of Western Society, provides a narrative account of the evolution of civilization in Europe from AD 400 to the mid-eighteenth century. The videotape lectures by Dr. J. M. Hayden summarize and analyse these developments, using the Middle Ages as a base against which to measure the economic, social, political, and intellectual changes experienced by Europe between 1350 and 1750. Textbook and lectures are supplemented by a study guide which integrates the material covered by them.

Outline

History 215 Europe: Medieval to Modern is divided into twelve units, each of which consists of a videotape lecture and associated readings from the print materials used in the course. There is also an optional computer conference for each unit. The units are as follows:

Evaluation

The final grade in HIST 215 is based on the grades achieved on two essay assignments and on the final examination. The final examination is closed-book and invigilated. Students must obtain at least 50 percent on this examination in order to pass the course. Students who do not achieve a minimum passing grade of 50 percent on the final examination will be allowed to write a supplemental final examination. To receive credit for the course you must achieve a final (composite) grade of “D” (50 percent) or better.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

McKay, John P., Bennett D. Hill, and John Buckler. 1995. A History of Western Society, Volume A: From Antiquity to 1500 and Volume B: From the Renaissance to 1815.
5th edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Benjamin, Jules R. 2007. A Student's Guide to History.
10th edition. Boston Bedford/St. Martin's.

More, Thomas. 1992. Utopia. Translated and edited by Robert M. Adams. 2d edition. New York: Norton.

Other Materials

The course materials include a student manual, a course guide, and thirteen videotape lectures in the History of Europe series which must be borrowed from Athabasca University Library.