European Civilization, 1648-1945

Course Lectures

• Introduction to European Civilization

  John Merriman

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  This module introduces the history of Europe from 1648 to 1945, focusing on the interplay between major historical events and the lives of ordinary people. It examines:

  • The consolidation of state power and its implications.
  • The development of identities and affiliations.
  • The long-term effects of economic changes on society.

  Students will engage with both historical texts and fictional works, exploring how these narratives complement each other in understanding the past.

• Absolutism and the State

  John Merriman

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  This module examines the rise of absolutism in Europe, contextualized by the religious wars and the Thirty Years' War. Key discussions include:

  • The motivations of nobles and landowners in surrendering independence for protection.
  • The establishment of standing armies and bureaucracies.
  • The implications for municipal privileges and the emergence of international law.

  Students will analyze how these developments shaped the political landscape of Europe.

• Dutch and British Exceptionalism

  John Merriman

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  This module explores why Great Britain and the Netherlands resisted adopting absolutist rule during the seventeenth century. It considers:

  • The role of a strong middle class in maintaining independence.
  • National traditions of resistance stemming from the English Civil War and the Dutch war for independence.
  • How anti-absolutism became integral to national identity.

  This examination reveals the cultural and political dynamics that distinguished these nations from their continental counterparts.

• Peter the Great

  John Merriman

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  This module focuses on Peter the Great's dual legacy, encompassing both military expansion and cultural transformation in Russia. Key themes include:

  • Peter's efforts to modernize Russian society with Western customs and ideas.
  • The internal conflicts between Westernizers and Slavophiles during his reign.
  • The long-lasting implications of these struggles on Russia's identity and politics.

  Students will analyze how Peter's policies influenced Russia's historical trajectory and its relationship with the West.

• The Enlightenment and the Public Sphere

  John Merriman

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  This module delves into the Enlightenment, emphasizing the transformation of French society leading to the Revolution. Students will explore:

  • Key thinkers such as Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire.
  • The role of the public sphere and popular press in shaping public opinion.
  • The impact of pamphleteers and scandal sheets on the monarchy's sacred authority.

  This exploration highlights how Enlightenment ideas contributed to the revolutionary climate in France.

• Maximilien Robespierre and the French Revolution

  John Merriman

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  This module focuses on Maximilien Robespierre, a key figure during the French Revolution. Major themes include:

  • Robespierre's philosophy and the influence of his childhood on his revolutionary thought.
  • The internal threats to the Revolution posed by counter-revolutionaries, including urban mercantilists and rural peasants.
  • The regional differences in support for the Revolution based on religious commitment.

  Students will analyze how Robespierre's actions and ideologies shaped the course of the Revolution.

• Napoleon

  John Merriman

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  This module investigates Napoleon's complex identity and the implications of his Corsican origins. Key discussions include:

  • How Napoleon's background influenced his political and military strategies.
  • The debate surrounding whether he initiated the era of total war.
  • The impact of his campaigns on civilian populations and state resources.

  This analysis provides insight into Napoleon's legacy and the evolution of warfare in Europe.

• Industrial Revolutions

  John Merriman

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  This module examines the Industrial Revolution, emphasizing its complexities and gradual evolution. Students will explore:

  • The differences between rapid industrialization in England and slower processes in other countries.
  • The relationship between the Industrial and Agricultural Revolutions.
  • The socio-economic consequences, including urban expansion and the emergence of proletarian labor.

  This exploration reveals the multifaceted nature of industrialization and its impact on society.

• Middle Classes

  John Merriman

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  This module focuses on the rise of the bourgeoisie in the nineteenth century, emphasizing its diversity and influence. Key topics include:

  • The emergence of plural middle classes rather than a homogenous group.
  • Their role in promoting public education and philanthropic activities.
  • Contemporary stereotypes of the bourgeoisie and their complexities.

  Students will analyze how middle-class dynamics shaped European society and culture during this period.

• Why No Revolution in 1848 in Britain

  John Merriman

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  This module investigates the absence of revolution in Britain during the widespread upheaval of 1848. Key discussions include:

  • The effectiveness of reformist political measures.
  • The role of the non-violent Chartist movement in political engagement.
  • How British self-identity, particularly in relation to Ireland, influenced the political landscape.

  This analysis provides insight into the unique political character of Britain during a revolutionary era.

• Nineteenth-Century Cities

  John Merriman

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  This module focuses on the unprecedented urbanization of the nineteenth century and its associated challenges. Key themes include:

  • The impact of urban population growth on class segregation.
  • The contrasting experiences of working classes in Europe and the U.S.
  • The rhetoric surrounding urban disease and decay, exemplified by Haussmann's Paris reconstruction.

  Students will analyze how urbanization shaped social and political dynamics during this period.

• Nationalism

  John Merriman

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  This module investigates the emergence of nationalism in Europe amidst ethnic and national conflicts of the twentieth century. Key discussions include:

  • The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire post-World War I.
  • The concept of national identity as a relatively recent invention.
  • The influence of language, religion, and ethnicity in shaping national communities.

  This exploration reveals the complexities of national identity in modern Europe.

• Radicals

  John Merriman

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  This module examines the two main strains of socialism in the nineteenth century: reformist and revolutionary. Key topics include:

  • The differing beliefs about how to effect change through the State.
  • The roles of syndicalists and anarchists in advocating for revolutionary change.
  • The impact of these ideologies on political movements and actions.

  Students will explore how these socialist movements shaped the political landscape of Europe.

• Imperialists and Boy Scouts

  John Merriman

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  This module analyzes the surge in European colonial expansion known as New Imperialism. Key discussions include:

  • The driving factors behind imperialism: religious, economic, and political.
  • The conflicts that emerged from imperialism, foreshadowing World War I.
  • The cultural programs that supported imperialist objectives, including the Boy Scouts' creation.

  This examination reveals how imperialism shaped European society and international relations.

• The Coming of the Great War

  John Merriman

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  This module explores the complexities surrounding the causes of World War I. Key themes include:

  • The early consensus on impending conflict and its unpredictability.
  • The economic and geopolitical motivations for alliances formed between France, Britain, and Russia.
  • The impact of cultural identity on relations, particularly concerning Alsace-Lorraine.

  Students will analyze how these factors contributed to the outbreak of one of history's most devastating wars.

• War in the Trenches

  John Merriman

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  This module examines the trench warfare that characterized World War I, highlighting its brutal realities. Key discussions include:

  • The strategic shift to defensive warfare and its psychological toll on soldiers.
  • The conditions and horrors of life in the trenches.
  • The cultural impact of WWI on the nations involved.

  Students will gain insight into the human experience of warfare and its lasting consequences.

• Sites of Memory, Sites of Mourning (Guest Lecture by Jay Winters)

  John Merriman

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  This module focuses on the commemoration of World War I and its lasting effects on European memory. Key themes include:

  • The differences in war perception between Europe and the United States.
  • The role of memorial sites in facilitating personal and political reconciliation.
  • The evolution of societal attitudes towards armies and warfare in a post-war context.

  Students will analyze how these memorial practices influence contemporary European identity.

• The Romanovs and the Russian Revolution

  John Merriman

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  This module investigates the Russian Revolution of 1917, focusing on the events between the February and October revolutions. Key discussions include:

  • The fate of Nicholas II amid political turmoil and competing factions.
  • The belief systems that influenced revolutionary actions.
  • The outcomes of the revolution and its lasting impact on Russian history.

  Students will explore the complexities of revolutionary processes and their implications for the future of Russia.

• Successor States of Eastern Europe

  John Merriman

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  This module examines the complex political landscape of post-World War I Europe, particularly concerning the successor states. Key themes include:

  • The perception of the Treaty of Versailles as a source of future conflict.
  • The national identity struggles faced by newly-formed states.
  • The persecution of minority groups, particularly Jews, in Central and Eastern Europe.

  Students will analyze how these dynamics contributed to the tensions leading up to World War II.

• Stalinism

  John Merriman

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  This module explores Stalinism and its impact on Soviet society. Key discussions include:

  • The early abuses present during the Russian Revolution and their connection to later Stalinist policies.
  • Stalin's efforts to assimilate national identities into a singular Soviet identity.
  • The consequences of his paranoia, including purges and deportations.

  Students will analyze how Stalin's regime shaped Soviet history and the broader implications for Eastern Europe.

• Fascists

  John Merriman

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  This module investigates the rise of fascism in Germany, particularly under Hitler's regime. Key discussions include:

  • The socio-political context that facilitated the rise of National Socialism.
  • The role of economic crises in shaping public support for fascism.
  • The policies of the Third Reich and their endorsement by the German populace.

  Students will explore how fascism emerged as a response to societal discontent and its devastating consequences.

• Collaboration and Resistance in World War II

  John Merriman

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  This module focuses on the themes of collaboration and resistance during World War II in Europe. Key discussions include:

  • The realities of collaboration among various national groups and motivations behind it.
  • The myths surrounding resistance movements and their actual prevalence.
  • The lasting consequences of collaboration and resistance in post-war societies.

  Students will analyze how these dynamics shaped national identities and historical narratives in Europe.

• The Collapse of Communism and Global Challenges

  John Merriman

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  This module examines the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and its aftermath. Key themes include:

  • The factors leading to disintegration, including nationalism and economic crisis.
  • The role of Mikhail Gorbachev in reforming communism and enabling political dissent.
  • The challenges of ethnic nationalism and human rights in post-communist Europe.

  Students will analyze how the collapse of communism reshaped Europe and the global landscape.