History of Modern Times

Teacher(s)

Dauchy Serge; Desmette Philippe;

Language

French

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

This course aims at introducing the students to the major "dividing lines" of Modern Times (16th, 17th and 18th centuries). It also aims to develop the students' capacity to approach a period of transition in Western history in its "long" dimension: understand the political, social and religious structures throughout Modern Times, but also beyond the chronological limits of the studied period (ruptures and continuities with the previous and following periods); in its "medium" dimension: analysis of the cyclic movements, especially in institutional and economic matters; and in its "short" dimension: assess the direct impact of events on political, social, religious and cultural history. This course also aims to discover new horizons through the analysis of colonial phenomena (mainly in America).

Content

This course is developed around four major themes:
1) The genesis of the Modern State and on the comparison of political systems in Europe in the 17th and 18 th centuries
2) The main upheavals of Western society (including the intellectual, geographical and religious frames) that occurred at the dawn of Modern Times;
3) society and economics from the 16th to 18th century;
4) culture(s) and civilisation(s). The course will essentially focus on Western Europe (the Empire, France, England, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and the former Netherlands) without forgetting the other continents to which Europe specifically opened up during Modern Times.

Teaching methods

This course is a lecture, which does not exclude the possibility of discussions and exchange of views.

Other information

A frame-syllabus including a detailed course outline, maps and bibliographical references.

Bibliography

Une bibliographie générale et des listes d'ouvrages spécialisés permettant d'approfondir la matière abordée au cours sont fournies dans le syllabus-cadre.

Faculty or entity

PHLB