HIST2075 The Real Games of Thrones: the Early Modern World 1453-1789

2020

4.5

Internal Availability
12 x 2-hour Lecture per semester
10 x 1-hour Tutorial per semester

External Availability
12 x 2-hour Online Lecture per semester
10 x 10-minute Online Exercise per semester

As a second-level topic in the History major sequence, this topic assumes a familiarity with the kind of knowledge, conceptual understanding and skills that would be acquired by the completion of at least 4.5 units of first-level topics from the History major sequence.

Assignments; Tests; Tutorial Paricipation.

Between 1453 and 1789, the Early Modern World was engulfed in a series a dramatic changes. From the rise and the falls of kingdoms, dynasties and empires, to the devastating effects of diseases and wars, the world seemed to move at a faster pace. This topic surveys radical changes and rivalries in the Early Modern World from the late Middle Ages to the end of the Ancien Régime, starting with the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and ending with the French Revolution. Students are introduced to the major historical themes such as the Age of Discovery, the Scientific Revolution, the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Enlightenment, while travelling to the Ottoman Empire, Persia, the UK, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Russia and the Mughal Empire. Your lecturers will tackle themes and places through a wide range of historical approaches, from military to political, social, economic, environmental, cultural and art history.

The aims of this topic are to:

1. Acquire a strong knowledge of
1. Cultures and societies in a number of temporal and geographical contexts in the Early Modern World
2. Perspectives on historical events and agents and how these perspectives contribute to historical discourse within the profession and more broadly
2. Acquire the ability to
1. Undertake historical research and reporting on the Early Modern World
2. Effectively communicate a nuanced understanding of some of the main historical events and concepts from 1453 to 1789
3. Work independently and collaboratively
4. Maintaining the normative ethical standard of the discipline of history in the graduate's research and reporting practices
5. Develop an understanding of the necessity of life-long learning and constant renewal of knowledge and skills in light of advances in the graduate's chosen field

At the completion of this topic, students are expected to be able to:

1. Critically reflect upon the shaping of the Early Modern World and the historical actors which forged it from the 1400s to the late 1700s
2. Demonstrate an appreciation of the complexities, characteristics and legacies of the Early Modern World
3. Have developed their communication skills through clear and effective writing in written assessments for the topic, and public speaking in tutorial
4. Locate, collect, interpret and synthesise a range of historical sources to develop a coherent argument
5. Plan, research and write an academic essay