Overview

This course is intended to present an overview of the history of what is known as ‘Modern Europe’. In fact it has been designed to provide a comprehensive account of the emergence of Modern Europe in the 18th century and introduces us to the important historical events and processes that went into the making of it. The course is meant to acquaint students especially at the undergraduate level with the history of the emergence of Modern Europe.The course attempts to study wider ideas, social forces, movements, institutions, individuals and so on in order to understand why and how Modern Europe emerged within a chronological framework. At first the course discusses thoroughly, with an aim to showcase the significance of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. It further examines the forces of Conservatism that were dominant in the first half of the 19th century and the revolutionary movements.The course examines the industrial revolution in Europe, especially with the case studies of Britain, France, Germany and Russia, that transformed to a large extent the nature of the production process prevalent in the pre-capitalist phase. The nature of this transformation influenced all aspects of society and economy, including demography, family, gender relationship and so on.In addition to this, the course introduces new ideas that emerged between the mid 18th and mid 19th centuries in Europe that significantly influenced the socio-political and economic developments in Europe. And at last, the course focuses on the emergence of nationalism and modern nation-states in Europe with the case studies of Germany, Italy, Ireland and the Balkans.After successful completion of this course the learners are expected to understand the history of Modern Europe—the significance of the French Revolution, role of intellectuals, emergence of new ideas, forces of conservatism, Napoleonic era, etc. Above this the learners are expected to learn the significance of the revolutions of 1820’s & 1830’s, industrial revolution and its impacts and modern nation-states in Europe.

Syllabus

WEEK 1The National Revolutions of 1848-50 Counter-Revolution of 1848 NationalismPre-Industrial EraWEEK 2Industrialization in France and GermanyAgrarian economy and Society in France, Germany and Netherlands in Eighteenth centuryEnlightenment in France and Beyond Enlightenment, Key Figures, Societal Impacts WEEK 3Liberal reforms in EuropeNationalism and the evolution of the modern State in 19th Century EuropeAgrarian Economy and Society in England Working class movement and chartist movement
WEEK 4Part one: Movements for social revolution in EuropePart two: Movements for social revolution in EuropeLiberal Revolutions in Europe Nationalism, Empire development and Ottoman EmpireThe Metternich System 1815-30 WEEK 5Political System and its Transformations in Britain The Romantic Revolutionaries and the Restored MonarchiesNapoleon as an Emperor (1804-1808)The continental system of NapoleonWEEK 6The evolution of European Social Classes (Part-I)The evolution of European Social Classes (Part-II)The evolution of European Social Classes (Part-III)
WEEK 7Evolution of SocialismThe downfall of NapoleonThe Consulate regime of Napoleon
WEEK 8Industrialization in France and Germany during 1851-1914Reform Act of 1832 and British ModernizationBalkan Nationalism under the Ottoman Empire
WEEK 9The Economic Revolution of 1830-48Idea of National Identities in Eastern EuropeDemographic change from mid 18th century to mid 20th century in Europe
WEEK 10Family, Gender and the process of IndustrializationIndustrial Revolution in EnglandFinancial and Technological Dimension for the Industrial Revolution
WEEK 11Part one: Unification of GermanyPart two: Unification of GermanyUnification of ItalyCauses of French revolution
WEEK 12Crisis of ancient regimeIntellectual revolution in FranceImpact of Industrialization on urban growth
WEEK 13Town types, layouts and demographic compositionLiberalism, utilitarianism and Laissez-fair in the 18th – 19th CenturyRise of Napoleon
WEEK 14Industrialization in Russia during 1851-1914 ( Part-I)Industrialization in Russia during 1851-1914 ( Part-II)Bonapartism and Bismarckism
WEEK 15Monarchy to Democratization in 19th century EuropePart one: The first phase of the French revolution: The constitutional MonarchyPart two: The second phase of French revolution: The democratic revolution