HIS 13 Introduction to Modern European History Basic Information Instructor Name Home Institution Email Office Hours Naum G. Katz Carnegie Mellon University kats@andrew.cmu.edu by Appointment Course Description This course provides students with knowledge of the most important developments that shaped European nations. Some introductory topics, such as the Renaissance and scientific and industrial revolutions, will help us to understand what made Europe stand out so sharply. The main focus of the course will be on political events in 20th century European history and their direct and indirect effects on peoples lives. Finally, students will learn about the relationship between European nations with the rest of the world, including the weakening of European influence and the strengthening of others, the phenomenon of decolonization, as well as the state of Europe today. European achievements in economic, intellectual, cultural, and political realm will be stressed through reading of primary and secondary historical sources as well as through watching documentary films. Learning objectives: 1. Survey of the beliefs and values that shaped European history in the twentieth century. 2. Enhance students awareness of the historical events recounted and analyzed in course lectures and textbooks. 3. Use various sources of historical knowledge to give students a permanent sense of the past, a kind of a historical memory. 3. Emphasize that in order to have success in the international arena in a globalized world and to avoid costly mistakes in the future, it is very important to learn the lessons from the recent past. 4. Teach students to analyze and to understand historical documents related to
modern European History. Course Hours The course has 20 class sessions in total. Each class session is 120 minutes in length. The course meets from Monday to Thursday. Each course has a total of 40 class hours (4 credit hours). Required Books: James Wilkinson, H. Stuart Hughes CONTEMPORARY EUROPE. A HISTORY David Welsh MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY, 1871-2000: A DOCUMENTARY READER Students are expected to complete all readings before the lectures and should be ready to demonstrate their knowledge of the assigned readings. Course Requirements: Class participation, analysis of historical documents, participation in-group presentations, mid-term and final exams. Assessment 1. Attendance and Participation - 20% of final grade. 2. Midterm Examination 30% of final grade. This examination will include three parts: multiple-choice section, short answers, and essay based on the readings and lectures up to that point. 3. Final Examination - 30% of final grade. This examination will include three parts: multiple-choice section, short answers, and essay with an emphasis on the second half of the semester. 4. In-group presentation -20% of final grade.
Grading Policy A+ 100-97 C+ 79-77 A 96-94 C 76-74 A- 93-90 C- 73-70 B+ 89-87 D+ 69-67 B 86-84 D 66-60 B- 83-80 F 59-0 Class Schedule and Assignments Week One 1. Introduction. From the past of Europe: Renaissance and Scientific Revolution. 2. Industrial revolution. 3. Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century. 4. The First World War. Assignments: Welsh, pp. 65-93; Wilkinson and Hughes, chapters 1-2; 4. Week Two 1. The Russian Revolution and its consequences. 2. Europe between two World Wars. 3. The Rise of Fascism. 4. Midterm examination Assignments: Welsh, pp.43-64; 94-177. Wilkinson and Hughes, chapters 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. Week Three 1. The Second World War. 2. Europe after the Second World War. 3. The Iron Curtain.
4. The end of colonial empires. Assignments: Welsh, pp. 178-226. Wilkinson and Hughes, chapters 12-18. Week Four 1.The end of Cold War. 2. Toward a New Europe. 3-4. Europe and a Global World. Assignments: Welsh, pp. 227-256. Wilkinson and Hughes, chapters 19-23. Week Five 1. A conclusion. 2. Students in-group presentations. 3. Final examination. Topics for in-group presentation - Relations between Europe and other parts of the world: colonialism, imperialism, decolonization, and global interdependence. - The development of political parties, ideologies, and other forms of mass politics. - Relationships between domestic and foreign policies. - Efforts to restrain conflicts, treaties, balance-of-power diplomacy, and international organizations. - Modern trends in European literature and the arts. - Intellectual and cultural developments in modern Europe and their relationships to social values and political events. - Changes in elite and popular culture, such as development of new attitudes toward religion, the family, and work. - Impact of global expansion on European culture. Academic integrity
Students at the Beijing Jiaotong University because they are members of an academic community dedicated to the achievement of excellence, are expected to meet the highest standards of personal, ethical, and moral conduct possible. These standards require personal integrity, a commitment to honesty without compromise, as well as truth without equivocation, and a willingness to place the good of the community above the good of the self. The Beijing Jiaotong University insists activities that have the effect or intention of interfering with education, pursuit of knowledge, or fair evaluation of a student s performance are prohibited. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and may be handled by the Office of Student Conduct.