History (HIST) 373

Overview

HIST 373 surveys the  one of the most important periods of history, the Italian Renaissance, from the fourteenth- to sixteenth centuries. Out of the late medieval catastrophes of plague, incessant warfare and religious controversy, Italian artists, writers, and statesmen sought to revive the high culture of ancient Greece and Rome and share it with the rest of Europe. It is often considered the beginning of the modern age. Students will read a sample of writings, in translation, of renaissance authors, artists, and cut-throat politicians. They’ll encounter famous figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, as well as less familiar writers. Assigned readings from leading modern historians will help students gain an understanding of this important period. The illustrated, online Study Guide helps students through their assigned readings in print and online. Students will hone their research and writing skills by studying an aspect or person from the renaissance in more detail through one short essay assignment (2000 words) and one research essay (3000 words). A final exam tests their knowledge. This course was written by Dr. E. David Gregory, Professor Emeritus of History. An AU tutor is assigned to each HIST 373 student to provide assistance and grade their assignments and exam.

Outline

• Unit 1. Interpreting the Renaissance: Idea and Issues
• Unit 2. Italian Renaissance Society: Continuity and Change
• Unit 3. The Italian States I: Florence and Rome
• Unit 4. The Italian States II: The Maritime States and the Principalities
• Unit 5. World Views, Petrarch, Humanism, and Liberal Studies
• Unit 6. Philosophy: Neo-Platonism and the Ideal of the Universal Man
• Unit 7. Religion: The Florentine Crisis and the Challenge of the Reformation
• Unit 8. Responses to Crisis: Political Thought and Historiography
• Unit 9. The Visual Arts: Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
• Unit 10. Artists, Writers, Patrons and Clients
• Unit 11. Types and Uses of Art, Taste, and Iconography
• Unit 12. Case Studies: Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael

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.

Materials

Other Materials

Students access an online Course Instruction, 12-unit Study Guide, and Assignment Instructions online. Some readings are posted online, while others are eBooks available online through the AU library.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The Challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you 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 about Challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

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.

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