HIST17370GD
Early Modern Europe: From the Renaissance to the French Revolution
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  I: Administrative Information   II: Course Details   III: Topical Outline(s)  Printable Version
 
Section I: Administrative Information
  Total hours: 42.0
Credit Value: 3.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Fall 2013
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents:
N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Program(s): Degree Breadth
Program Coordinator(s): Sean McNabney
Course Leader or Contact: Mauro Marsella
Version:
6.0
Status: Approved (APPR)

Section I Notes: N/A

 
 
Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
Students examine the political, social, and cultural forces that have shaped European history from the Renaissance to the outbreak of the French Revolution. They identify how and why the Early Modern era developed and evolved, and how it has shaped the modern world. Students explore how the Renaissance departed from the culture and worldview of the Middle Ages and initiated the development of modern Western civilization. In addition to the Renaissance, they analyze the major themes and events of the Reformation, Age of Exploration, Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment, and French Revolution. Through a combination of group activities, discussions and debates, individual and collaborative research, and interactive lectures, students examine the roots and development of modern statehood, representative government, secularism, science, free market capitalism and industrialism.

Program Context

 
Degree Breadth Program Coordinator: Sean McNabney
This is an elective course for students registered in Sheridan baccalaureate programs. Electives make students aware of the distinctive assumptions and modes of analysis of at least one discipline outside their main field of study and of the society and culture in which they live and work.


Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

 
 To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated 
the ability to:

1.Identify the basic evolutionary structure and the major themes,  
  events, and figures of the history of Early Modern Europe.
2.Critically compare the major themes, concepts, events, and figures 
  of the Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Exploration, Scientific 
  Revolution, Enlightenment, and French Revolution.
3.Evaluate the political, social, and cultural forces that have 
  shaped European history from the end of the Middle Ages to the 
  outbreak of the French Revolution.
4.Explain the nature and development of the Renaissance and its 
  impact on the evolution of modern Western civilization.
5.Assess the relevance of Early Modern European history to modern 
  society, especially with regard to the roots and development of 
  modern statehood, representative government, free market 
  capitalism, industrialism, secularism, and science. 
6.Conduct research to inform detailed critical analyses regarding one 
  or more major aspects of the history of Early Modern Europe. 
7.Collaborate with peers using professional interpersonal 
  communication and organizational strategies.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

 
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

In-Class Activities (2@5%)           10%
Mid Term Test                        20%      
Group Presentation                   20%
Final Research Project:
Part I.  Preliminary Report           5%
Part II. Research Paper              20%
FINAL EXAM                           25%
Total                               100%

TEST AND ASSIGNMENT PROTOCOL 

To encourage behaviours that will help students to be successful in 
the workplace and to ensure that students receive credit for their 
individual work, the following rules apply to every course offered 
within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.  
            
1. Students are responsible for staying abreast of test dates and 
   times, as well as due dates and any special instructions for 
   submitting assignments and projects as supplied to the class by 
   the Professor.
2. Students must write all tests at the specified times. Missed 
   tests, in-class activities, assignments and presentations are   
   awarded a mark of zero. If an extension or make-up opportunity 
   is approved by the professor as outlined below, the mark of zero 
   may be revised by subsequent performance.  The penalty for late   
   submission of written assignments is a loss of 10% per day for 
   up to five business days (excluding weekends and statutory 
   holidays), after which, a grade of zero is assigned.  Business
   days include any day that the college is open for business, 
   whether the student has scheduled classes that day or not.  
3. Students, who miss a test or in-class activity or assignment or 
   fail to submit an assignment on time due to exceptional
   circumstances, are required to notify their professor in advance
   of the class whenever possible.  A make-up test may be supplied 
   for students who provide an acceptable explanation of their  
   absence and/or acceptable documentation explaining their absence
   (e.g., a medical certificate).  All make-up tests are to be 
   written at a time and place specified by the professor upon the
   student's return.  Alternately, students may be given an 
   opportunity to earn the associated marks by having a subsequent 
   test count for the additional marks.  Similarly, exceptional 
   circumstances may result in a modification of the due dates for
   assignments.
4. Unless otherwise specified, assignments and projects must be 
   submitted at the beginning of class. 
5. Students must complete every assignment as an individual effort  
   unless, the professor specifies otherwise.
6. Since there may be instances of grade appeal or questions 
   regarding the timely completion of assignments and/or extent of   
   individual effort, etc., students are strongly advised to keep,  
   and make available to their professor, if requested, a copy of 
   all assignments and working notes until the course grade has been 
   finalized.  
7. There will be no resubmission of work unless this has been 
   previously agreed to or suggested by the professor. 
8. Students must submit all assignments in courses with practical 
   lab and field components in order to pass the course.
Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requirements:

 

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

  Communication   Critical Thinking & Problem Solving   Interpersonal
  Numeracy   Information Management   Personal

Notes: N/A

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact (if course is PLAR-eligible) : Office of the Registrar

Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous relevant work/life experience, service, self-study and training on the job. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam Portfolio Interview Other Not Eligible for PLAR
  X X    

Notes:  Both a Portfolio and Interview are required to demonstrate the course learning outcomes.

 
 
Section III: Topical Outline
Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Effective term: Fall 2013
Professor: Mauro Marsella
Textbook(s):
Noble, Thomas, et al. (2014).  Western civilization:  Beyond 
Boundaries. Complete, 7th Ed. Wadsworth.

Applicable student group(s): Degree Breadth
Course Details:
Unit 1 - Introduction
Introduction to Course and Instructor

Reading:
- Reading Selections

Unit 2 - The Middle Ages (1300 - 1500)

Topics:
Crisis & Recovery in Late Medieval Europe

Reading:
- Noble, Ch. 11

Unit 3 - The Renaissance (1300-1550)

Topics:
Humanism, Art and Culture in Italy
The Spread of the Renaissance

Reading:
- Noble, ch. 12

Unit 4 - European Overseas Expansion to 1600

Topics:
Portuguese Exploration
Spanish Exploration & Empire
Columbus & America

Reading:
- Noble, ch. 13

In-Class Activity #1 (5%)

Unit 5 - The Reformations (1517-1600)

Topics:
The Protestant Reformation
The Catholic Reformation

Reading:
- Noble, ch. 14

PRELIMINARY REPORT DUE (5%)
GROUP PRESENTATIONS BEGIN (20%)

Unit 6 - Europe at War (1560-1648)

Topics:
The Decline of Imperial Spain
Domestic Conflict in France & Britain
The Thirty Years War
Economic Change & Social Tensions

Reading:
- Noble, ch. 15

GROUP PRESENTATIONS CONTINUE (20%)

Unit 7 - MID-TERM TEST (20%)

Unit 8 - State Making (1640-1715)

Topics:
Royal Absolutism in France
Constitutionalism in England

Reading:
- Noble, p. 468-82

GROUP PRESENTATIONS CONTINUE (20%)

Unit 9 - The Scientific Revolution (1543-1632)

Topics:
The Revolution in Astronomy
The Scientific Revolution

Reading:
- Noble, ch. 17

In-Class Activity #2 (5%)

Unit 10 - The Balance of European Power (1648-1789)

Topics:
The Rise of New Powers: Austria, Prussia, Russia & the Netherlands
The Widening World of Trade, Settlement, Production & Warfare

Reading:
- Noble, p. 482-99, 548-61

GROUP PRESENTATIONS CONTINUE (20%)

Unit 11 - The Age on Enlightenment (1715-1789)

Topics:
The Enlightenment
European States in the Eighteenth Century

Reading
- Noble, p. 529-48

RESEARCH PAPER DUE (20%)
GROUP PRESENTATIONS CONCLUDE  (20%)

Unit 12 - The Revolutionary Age (1789-1815)

Topics:
The Causes and Impact of the French Revolution

Reading:
- Noble, ch. 19

Unit 13 - FINAL EXAM (25%)

Week 14 - Course Recap

Topics:
Return of Assignments


Sheridan Policies

All Sheridan policies can be viewed on the Sheridan policy website.

Academic Integrity: The principle of academic integrity requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original, unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the professor, or otherwise submitting work that is not the student's own, violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic integrity are advised to review the Academic Integrity Policy and procedure and/or discuss them with the professor.

Copyright: A majority of the course lectures and materials provided in class and posted in SLATE are protected by copyright. Use of these materials must comply with the Acceptable Use Policy, Use of Copyright Protected Work Policy and Student Code of Conduct. Students may use, copy and share these materials for learning and/or research purposes provided that the use complies with fair dealing or an exception in the Copyright Act. Permission from the rights holder would be necessary otherwise. Please note that it is prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote. It is also prohibited to reproduce and/or post a work that is not your own or your own work with the intent to assist others in cheating on third-party commercial websites including but not limited to Course Hero or OneNote.

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Course Outline Changes: The information contained in this Course Outline including but not limited to faculty and program information and course description is subject to change without notice. Any changes to course curriculum and/or assessment shall adhere to approved Sheridan protocol. Nothing in this Course Outline should be viewed as a representation, offer and/or warranty. Students are responsible for reading the Important Notice and Disclaimer which applies to Programs and Courses.


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