History (HIST) 373

Overview

HIST 373 surveys the state of Western Europe in the fourteenth century—a time of devastating economic catastrophe, social upheaval, and religious controversy—and then focuses on Italy, the heartland of the Renaissance, a country that was fragmented politically and often torn by severe social conflict yet led the economic and cultural recovery of Europe in the fifteenth century. The course examines in turn all the main aspects of the Italian Renaissance: the vibrant political and social life of the Italian city states, the growth and impact of the humanist movement, the writings of leading poets, philosophers, and political theorists, and the flourishing art and architecture created by Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and others. Extensive use is made of contemporary sources to obtain first-hand insights into the values and concerns of Renaissance men and women.

Outline

• Unit 1: Introduction and Medieval Background
• Unit 2: Crisis and Recovery, 1300-1500
• Unit 3: Christianity in Turmoil, 1300-1500
• Unit 4: Literature and Society
• Unit 5: Renaissance Italy
• Unit 6: Italian Renaissance Humanism
• Unit 7: The Arts in the Italian Renaissance

Evaluation

To receive credit for HIST 373, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

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

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Materials

The course materials include a student manual and two reading files.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the HIST 373 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the entire challenge examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form