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EUH 2021 (Sections U03-U08)—Western Civilization: Early Modern Europe

Florida International University
Spring Semester, 2010

Dr. Jeremy Rowan

Office: DM 399
Office Phone: (305) 348-4791
Office Hours: 2:00-3:00 MW; 11:00-12:00 T
E-mail: rowanj@fiu.edu

Teaching Assistants:

Ms. Natalie Varela

E-mail: nvare002@fiu.edu
Office: DM 390
Office Hours: 3:00-5:00 W

Ms. Lisa Howe

E-mail: lisa.howe@fiu.edu
Office: DM 390
Office Hours: 4:00-5:00 MW

Course Description:
This course examines key developments in the origins and nature of Early Modern Europe,
including political, social, cultural, and economic developments from the 13th century to the late
18th century. Written work meets the state Gordon Rule requirement.

Course Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to familiarize students with the historical events and
movements that constitute the development of Early Modern Europe. The course will also focus
on the impact these events and movements had on society and how ordinary people have played
significant roles in shaping history. Secondary objectives are to introduce students to historical
criticism, to develop writing skills, and to encourage critical thinking.

Course Methods:
The course is primarily conducted through lectures, class discussion, collaborative activities, and
power-point/internet presentations. Students must keep well-organized notes from the lectures,
have all written assignments handed in on time, and complete all reading assignments by the due
dates. Students will be held responsible for both the lecture material and all reading
assignments.

Turnitin:
All students must register for this course on Turnitin.com. It is mandatory. The class number is
3045310 and the password is tudor .

We use Turnitin for multiple reasons: as an anti-plagiarism device, a gradebook, and finally as an
efficient method for contacting the class via e-mail. Please make sure you provide an e-mail
address that you check regularly.
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Discussion Sections:
All students will attend the lectures every Monday and Wednesday in RB 120
between 3:00-3:30 PM. Each Friday, students will attend a discussion group session led by your
section TA. It is imperative that you attend the section that you registered for. The discussion
sections will primarily be used for answering (and asking) questions from the primary source
readings. But, the session will also be an opportunity for students to discuss the lectures, prepare
for exams, and peer review each others’ drafts. Remember, discussion/in-class assignments
constitute 20% of the course grade.

Here are the list of sections, times, and room numbers for the discussion sections:

Section 03—3:00-3:50 Room GC 273A Howe

Section 04—3:00-3:50 Room GC 273B Varela
Section 05—2:00-2:50 Room GC 273B Varela
Section 06—2:00-2:50 Room GC 273A Howe
Section 07—1:00-1:50 Room GC 273A Howe
Section 08—1:00-1:50 Room GC 273B Varela

Required Readings:
The West: Encounters and Transformations 2nd Edition (Single Volume or Volume B) by Brian
Levack, Edward Muir, Meredith Veldman, and Michael Maas. Longman.

Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization 7th Edition (Volume 1) Edited by Mark
Kishlansky. Longman.

Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King. Penguin.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Penguin Classics.

Criteria for Evaluation:

2 Exams—each worth 20% of the final course grade
2 Papers—each worth 20% of the final course grade
In-class writing assignments, quizzes, class participation—worth 20% of the final course grade.

Each exam will cover the material since the previous exam. STUDENTS ARE TO BRING A
BLUE EXAMINATION BOOKLET TO CLASS ON THE EXAM DATES. BLUE BOOKS
ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE CAMPUS BOOKSTORE.

Writing and critical thinking are primary components of this class.

Frequently, we will talk about the expectations for writing in the field of
history. We will analyze, for example, the style and form of writing
presented in your texts and in articles we read. Even if you do not plan to be
an historian, such awareness of disciplinary communication will be useful to
you, no matter your major or career.

To meet the state of Florida’s Gordon Rule writing requirements, you will
complete a sequence of writing assignments, ranging from informal in-class
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writings to essay exams and formal essays. You will frequently be asked to
write reading responses and in-class collaborative writing assignments.
These assignments provide evidence of your reading and comprehension of
the material; they prepare you to participate in class discussion, and they
also facilitate your understanding of the readings. You will also complete
essay exam questions on your two major exams, and write two thesis-driven
essays that synthesize main ideas from the course. I will provide you with
detailed assignment sheets for these essays. A week before their due date,
you’ll be asked to bring a rough draft of your essay to class for peer review.
You are required to upload your final copy to turnitin.com on the due date. Late writing
assignments will be penalized a letter grade for every class period that the paper is late.

Make-up Exams:
No make-up exams will be given except in cases of illness and/or emergency. A doctor’s note
must be presented upon the instructor’s request for a make-up exam to be given. If no note is
forthcoming, the instructor retains the right to refuse to administer a make-up exam. A doctor’s
or dental appointment which is a non-emergency, and which, therefore, can be reasonably
rescheduled, is not a valid excuse. Unexcused missed exams will receive an automatic grade of
0%.

Grading:
In the course, grading will follow the scale below:
A = 100-94 %
A- = 93-90%
B+ = 89–86%
B = 85-83%
B- = 82-80%
C+ = 79–76%
C = 75-73%
C- = 72-70%
D+ = 69-66%
D = 65-63%
D+ = 62-60
F = 59% and below

Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend both the lectures and the discussion group
sessions. Listening to the lectures and participating in class discussion and
the in-class writing assignments are essential to success in this course.

Academic Dishonesty Policy:

Cheating and Plagiarism
a. Cheating is defined as the attempt, successful or not, to give or obtain
information by illicit means in meeting any academic requirements including,
but not limited to, examinations;
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b. Plagiarism is defined as the use, without proper acknowledgement, of the

ideas, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse from another writer or
speaker.

Students are expected to know and abide by the academic dishonesty policy as
outlined in the university handbook and catalogue.

Students are therefore warned: Cheating and/or plagiarism in are grounds for an
automatic grade of “F”.

Student Behavior:
All FIU University students are expected to behave according to the accepted norms that ensure
a climate wherein all can exercise their right to learn. Such norms are set forth in the
undergraduate catalogue. Please be sure that you have read and understood the section. No
faculty member will tolerate classroom behavior that violates these norms. Such behavior will
be grounds for withdrawal from the class, judicial proceedings, and/or failure of the course.

Class Schedule:

Week 1:
Monday, Jan 4—Course Introduction and Syllabus
Reading: Levack “What is the West?” (pp. 3-9)

Wednesday, Jan 6—The Middle Ages

Friday, Jan 8—Discussion session on “What is the West”

Reading: Levack Chapter 10; Reading: Kishlansky #45, 46, 50

Week 2:
Monday, Jan 11—The High Middle Ages

Wednesday, Jan 13— Crises during the Later Middle Ages

Friday, Jan 15— Discussion session on Kishlansky

Reading: Levack Chapter 11; Reading: Kishlansky # 53, 54, 55, 56

Week 3:
Monday, Jan 18—NO CLASS (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

Wednesday, Jan 20— The Early Renaissance

Friday, Jan 22— Discussion session on Kishlansky

Reading: Brunelleschi’s Dome

Week 4:
Monday, Jan 25—The High Renaissance

Wednesday, Jan 27—“Writing in History”

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Friday, Jan 29— Discussion session on Brunelleschi’s Dome

Week 5:
Monday, Feb 1—The Spread of the Renaissance

Wednesday, Feb 3— European Exploration and Global Encounters

Friday, Feb 5— Discussion session: Paper 1 Draft Due (peer review)

Reading: Levack Chapter 12; Kishlansky # 57, 60, 63, 64, 65

Week 6:
Monday, Feb 8—Global Encounters cont.

Wednesday, Feb 10—Paper 1 Due (upload to Turnitin)

Friday, Feb 12— Discussion session on Kishlansky

Reading: Kishlansky # 68, 69, 73
Levack Chapter 13

Week 7:
Monday, Feb 15 —Religious Reformations

Wednesday, Feb 17— Religious Reformations

Friday, Feb 19— Discussion session on Kishlansky

Week 8:
Monday, Feb 22—Religious Reformations

Wednesday, Feb 24—Religious Reformations

Friday, Feb 26—Discussion session: Midterm Review

Reading: Kishlansky # 71, 74, 76
Levack Chapter 14

Week 9:
Monday, Mar 1— The Age of Religious Division

Wednesday, Mar 3—The Age of Religious Division (cont.)

Friday, Mar 5-- Discussion session on Kishlansky

Week 10:
Monday, Mar 8— The Age of Religious Division (cont.)

Wednesday, Mar 10—States of Eastern Europe

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Friday, Mar 12—Midterm Exam (Levack Chapters 10-14)

Week 11:

Mar 15-20—SPRING BREAK

Week 12:
Monday, Mar 22— Nature of Absolutism
Reading: Levack Chapter 15; Kishlansky # 77, 79, 82

Wednesday, Mar 24— Absolutism and State Building

Friday, Mar 26— Discussion session on Kishlansky

Week 13:
Monday, Mar 29— Absolutism Cont.
Reading: Kishlansky # 80, 81

Wednesday, Mar 31— Constitutionalism: England

Reading: Levack Chapter 16

Friday, Apr 2— Discussion session on Kishlansky

Week 14:

Monday, Apr 5— Constitutionalism Cont.

Wednesday, Apr 7— Constitutionalism: The Dutch Republic

Friday, Apr 9— Discussion session; Paper 2 Draft Due (peer review)

Reading: Chapter 17; Robinson Crusoe

Week 15:
Monday, Apr 12— The Scientific Revolution; Paper 2 Due (upload to Turnitin)

Wednesday, Apr 14— The Scientific Rev (cont.)

Friday, Apr 16— Discussion session: Final Exam Review (Levack Chapters 15-18)
Reading: Levack Chapter 18

Week 16:

Monday, Apr 19— Empire, Trade and Dynastic Wars

Wednesday, Apr 21—18th century Society and Culture

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Friday, Apr 23—Discussion session on Robinson Crusoe

Week 17:

Apr 19-24—Final Exam Week