Western Civilization Since 1648

History 106, Fall 1999

Gregory S. Brown

324 Wright Hall; (702) 895-4181; gbrown@nevada.edu

Office Hours: T, R 10 - 11 and by appointment

This course surveys the history of the western world from the mid-seventeenth century to the present, focusing on European geography, economy, society, politics, diplomacy and culture over the last 350 years, and on Europeans' interactions with each other and the rest of the world. Considering the American constitution in the context of the early modern European politics and the Enlightenment, this course satisfies the U. S. Constitutions requirement.

Course format and requirements

The course consists of two class meetings per week; a part of each class will be devoted to lecture and part will be devoted to discussions of that day's readings. Students will be expected to do the reading during the course of the week, attend all class sessions, and participate actively in weekly class discussions.

The student's participation in class discussions (and performance of occasional written exercises based on the readings and discussions) will account for 20% of the semester grade. Other course requirements will be two short (3-page) papers based on primary documents - each of which will constitute 25% of the students' semester grade - and a final examination (30% of the semester grade).

Books (available for purchase in Moyer Union bookstore):

Chambers et al., The Western Experience vol. II (7th ed, 1995)

Perry, ed. Sources of the Western Tradition vol. II (4^th ed., 1996)

Other readings will be available on-line at the Department of History website

http://www.unlv.edu/History/resources

Date Topics Readings

Tu Aug 31 Introduction and Overview:

What is "Western Experience"? Chambers, xxxi - xxxii

Th Sep 2 What is Europe? Chambers, 542-568

Perry, xiv-xvii

Tu Sep 7 Traditional European Society: Chambers, 568 - 578

Lords, Peasants, Serfs and Citizens

Th Sep 9 Religious Wars and Ch. 504 - 542; 580 - 615

17^th-Century Governments Perry, 20 - 27; 57 - 60

Tu Sep 14 18^th-Century Politics: Ch., 615 - 655

Empires, Absolute Monarchies,

Colonies, and Republics

Th Sep 16 "Old Regime" Society: Perry, 60 - 67, 93 - 95

The Rise of the Middle Classes?

Tu Sep 21 Enlightenment I: The Age of Reason Chambers 658-670

Perry 50- 57

Th Sep 23 Enlightenment II: Utopia and Reform Perry, 74 - 90

Tu Sep 28 Republic of Letters, Republic of Citizens: Chambers 670 - 687;

Constitutionalism and Public Opinion U. S. Constitution

Th Sep 30 The French Revolution I: Chambers 690 - 710

Liberty and Rights Perry 95 - 107

Tu Oct 5 The French Revolution II: Chambers 710 - 738

The Republic: Equality, Virtue and Terror Perry, 108 - 112

Th Oct 7 Napoleonic Europe Chambers, 739 - 759

Perry, 112 - 116

Tu Oct 12 Industrial Development, 1780 - 1850 Chambers, 773 - 780

Th Oct 14 Consequences of Industrialization Ch., 781 - 822

Perry 119 - 132

Tu Oct 19 Social Change in the 19^th Century Perry 132 - 136

Th Oct 21 Midterm

Tu Oct 26 Liberalism and Reform in Chambers 822 - 834

19^th-Century Politics Perry, 146 - 148

Th Oct 28 Liberalism and Nationalism Chambers 834 - 863

in the Revolutions of 1848 Perry, 148 - 159

Tu Nov 2 Bourgeois Culture Chambers 863 - 869

Perry, 202 - 211

Th Nov 4 "Growth" and "Progress": Ch., 870 - 887

Socialism and Revolution Perry, 165 - 202

Tu Nov 9 European Imperialism and Chambers, 887 - 907

the Problem of "Civilization" Perry, 223 - 230, 240 - 253

Th Nov 11 [no class: Veterans Day]

Tu Nov 16 Grandeur and Decadence Chambers, 919 - 940

at the Turn of the Century Perry, 212 - 223

Th Nov 18 The Great War and its Consequences: Chambers, 942 -982

Battle Front and Home Front Perry, 293-297; 304-320

Tu Nov 23 The Soviet Revolution and the 20s: Chambers 984 - 1002

Economics, History and Democracy Perry, 299 - 303;

323 -326; 331 - 336

Th Nov 25 [no class: Thanksgiving]

Tu Nov 30 Fascism and Nazism: Chambers, 1002-1020

Perry, 363 - 366, 370 -387

Th Dec 2 World War II: Occupation, Chambers, 1020 - 1063

Resistence and the Holocaust Perry, 390 - 398; 410 - 420

Tu Dec 7 European History since the War Chambers, 1063 - 1134;

Perry, 352 - 360; 387 - 390;

422 - 445

Th Dec 9 Tendencies of Contemporary Europe Chmb., 1135 - 1148