Description:

This course is an introduction to early modern European history, with emphasis on the economic, social and political developments that have shaped the modern world: the Renaissance; the Catholic and Protestant Reformations; the rise of nation-states; the new inter-cultural contact between Europe and the world; the Commercial Revolution and the Enlightenment. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Identify, compare, and contrast the general characteristics of medieval and modern European society.
2. Describe the culture created by the fifteenth-century Renaissance.
3. Trace the growth of religious crisis within the Catholic Church to its culmination in the Protestant and Catholic Reformations.
4. Describe the presence of Europe in the East during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the consequences of the inter-cultural contact between Europe and Asia.
5. Describe the presence of Europe in the West during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the consequences of the inter-cultural contact between Europe and the indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere and Africa.
6. Summarize the wars of religion–1550-1648–and the process of state formation and disintegration in Europe.
7. Examine how transformation in economic and religious life reshaped society and social relations in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
8. Identify the scientific discoveries, theories, and intellectual crisis that characterize the Scientific Revolution of sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
9. Describe how the monarchs of seventeenth-century France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia established royal absolutism in their respective states.
10. Assess the causes and consequences of the English Civil War and the rise of Constitutional Monarchy.
11. Describe the dynastic rivalries and the balance of power politics of eighteenth century Europe.
12. Summarize the basic assumptions of Enlightenment thought, and identify the major ideas and their proponents that characterize this eighteenth-century intellectual movement.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. General characteristics of medieval and modern European society
   A. Summarize the general social, economic, and political
characteristics of medieval Europe.
   B. Summarize the general social, economic , and political
characteristics of modern Europe.
   C. Compare and contrast the general characteristics of medieval and
modern Europe.

II. Culture created by the fifteenth-century Renaissance
   A. Identify the favorable geographical and political conditions for
economic and cultural development in fifteenth century Italy.
   B. Compare and contrast the sources of artistic patronage in medieval
and Renaissance Europe, and their influence on art and intellectual life.
   C. Summarize the intellectual and cultural transformation created by
the Renaissance.

III. Growth of religious crisis within the Catholic Church to its
culmination in the Protestant and Catholic Reformations
   A. Identify points of religious dissent in the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries as exemplified by the Hussites, Devotio Moderna, Christian
Humanism, and the councilar movement.
   B. Explain the main theological points of contention between Martin
Luther and the Catholic Church.
   C. Describe Luther’s break with the Church and provide reasons for
the success of his  challenge to Church authority.
   D. Summarize  the contributions to Protestant theology made by Calvin
and Zwingli. 
   E. Elaborate on the policies and reforms enacted by the Church in
response to the Protestant Reformation.
   F. Identify the characteristics of Baroque art and assess the
Church’s use of this artistic style in  the Catholic Reformation.

IV. Presence of Europe in the East during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries and the consequences of the inter-cultural contact between
Europe and Asia
   A. Describe the events and developments that provided impetus for the
fifteenth- century maritime exploration from the Atlantic seaboard.
   B. Explain the manner in which the Portugese and Dutch established
their commercial interests in Africa and Asia.
   C. Summarize the economic and cultural impact on both sides of the
inter-cultural contact between Europe and Asia.

V. Presence of Europe in the Western Hemisphere during the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries and the consequences of the inter-cultural contact
between Europe and the indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere and
Africa
   A. Describe the extension of the Spanish control over areas of the
Western Hemisphere. 
   B. Distinguish between traditional forms of slavery and the slavery
introduced into the Western Hemisphere in the sixteenth century. 
   C. Locate the major colonial settlements in the Western Hemisphere.
   D. Summarize the economic and cultural impact on both sides of the
inter-cultural contact between Europe and the indigenous peoples of the
Western Hemisphere and Africa.

VI. Wars of religion–1550-1648–and the process of state formation and
disintegration in Europe
   A. Describe how religious issues and economic rivalry heightened
tensions between Spain and England.
   B. Describe the Protestant-Catholic conflict within the Spanish Empire
and the creation of an independent Dutch republic.
   C. Evaluate the policies of the French monarchs in dealing with
Catholic-Protestant conflict within France.
   D. Analyze the political and religious sources of wars and related
conflicts in the Holy Roman Empire and results of the conflicts for the
major states and territories of central Europe.

VII. Transformation in economic and religious life reshaped society and
social relations in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
   A. Summarize the transition from a “subsistence culture” to the
beginnings of a “consumer culture”.
   B. Identify the political, economic, and religious sources of the
“witchcraft craze” of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
   C. Compare and contrast the condition of the peasantry in the western
and eastern Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
 
VIII. Scientific discoveries, theories, and intellectual crisis that
characterize the Scientific Revolution of sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries
   A. Describe the intellectual climate of the sixteenth century and the
way it which it contributed to new learning and dissent.  
   B. Identify the scientific discoveries and new theories that challenged
traditional sources of intellectual authority in sixteenth-century Europe.
   C. Summarize the theories of knowledge developed in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries to address the intellectual crisis created by the
Scientific Revolution.
   D. Define “Newtonian science” and identify the philosophical
assumptions and values embodied in this science that carried over into
intellectual life of the eighteenth century. 

IX. Monarchs of seventeenth-century France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia
established royal absolutism in their respective states
   A. Compare and contrast Royal Absolutism in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries with traditional monarchical rule.
   B. Analyze the new ideas on state and state sovereignty that provide
the intellectual justification for royal absolutism.
   C. Describe the political culture created by Louis XIV and its
influence on Europe.
   D. Evaluate the policies of Peter the Great in his efforts to
consolidate power and “modernize” Russia.
   E. Compare and contrast the Hapsburg and Hohenzollern monarchs in
building and governing their respective states.

X. Causes and consequences of the English Civil War and the rise of
Constitutional Monarchy
   A. Identify the economic, social, and political characteristics of
England that militated against the development of Royal Absolutism in the
seventeenth century.
   B. Trace the growing religious and political tensions under the Stuart
monarchs to the outbreak of civil war in England.
   C. Evaluate the foreign and domestic policies of Cromwell’s
government. 
   D. Analyze the Restoration politics of Charles II and James II and the
victory of Parliament in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

XI. Dynastic rivalries and the balance of power politics of eighteenth
century Europe
   A. Summarize the Anglo-French rivalry from the wars of Louis XIV to the
Seven Years War.
   B. Identify the territorial points of contention between Austria,
Prussia, and Russia.
   C. Assess the foreign and domestic policies of Austria and Prussia that
establish their dominance in central and eastern Europe.

XII. Basic assumptions of Enlightenment thought, and identify the major
ideas and their proponents that characterize this eighteenth-century
intellectual movement
   A. Describe the salon culture and new modes of disseminating ideas and
information in the eighteenth century.
   B. Identify the institutions, policies, and practices that were
particularly subject to criticism by the Enlightenment thinkers.
   C. Evaluate the contribution of the Enlightenment to the shaping of the
modern world.    

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Examinations         50% of grade
Projects/Assignments 50% of grade
  Total:            100%
Grade Criteria:
  A = 90 - 100%   
  B = 80 -  89%  
  C = 70 -  79%  
  D = 60 -  69%  
  F =  0 -  59%    

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.