HIST 317: Modern Europe, 1789-Present

This course surveys the history of Europe from the French Revolution to the present. It is topically and chronologically organized and emphasizes common themes and problems in European civilization as a whole rather than specific national histories. The first half of the course traces Europe’s ascent to global dominance across the nineteenth century through the development and spread of industrial capitalism and colonial empires. The second half of the course follows the history of Europe through the two World Wars and the resultant collapse of empires and the Cold-War division of Europe. The course concludes with an examination of the fall of Communism, the rise of the EU, and the renewed forces of nationalism that have resisted European unification. In addition to following these broad political developments, this course also focuses on social and economic changes, cultural movements, and the lived experience of Europeans during this period of deep and rapid transformation.