EUROPEAN STUDIES:
The Culture of Europe: A Survey. Level 1. KL1061

This course will be available in session 2001/2002, beginning on 24 September 2001

Description
This course, from a broad European perspective, will be structured around chronological snapshots from Ancient Greece to the present. A major focus will be to examine the progress of European history and philosophical ideas in a holistic manner and to study the links from one era to another, not as separate developments, but as a continuum. The course covers theoretical areas, but the main thrust is the chronological historical overview of European culture from Ancient Greece to the present.

For this purpose, eight main themes are covered. After an introduction to the basic principles of cultural history, the main themes are as follows: the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, and the 17th to the 20th centuries. The themes and topics may be studied in fairly broad terms or in more detail, depending on texts and sources. One thing is clear, though, and that is despite the long time period from Classical Greece to the 20th century, the ideas of each of the main themes on the course still affect us today in more ways than we can imagine. Although there may be obvious differences between the citizens of Europe there are also many similarities which, as part of a common European heritage, we all share.

Course Outline:
· Introduction
· Ancient Greece
· The Romans
· The Middle Ages
· Crusades and Colonialism
· Renaissance and Reformation
· The 17th century
· The 18th century
· The 19th century
· The 20th century
· Conclusion

Assessment
Assessment will consist of two essays of 1500 words (60%) and a two-hour examination (40%).

Tutor
Mr. David Hastie

Teaching method
The course will be taught using a Web-based teaching tool, so that students all over Europe can join this course. It will be taught in English.