History 398: Twentieth-Century Europe
"Self Portrait" by Pablo Picasso
Course Description
This class has been designed as the second half of a
year-long, in-depth study of Modern European History. (You do not have
to take both semesters.) The Fall semester course could be called "The
Long 19th Century" since it covered the period 1789-1914. Trends historians
describe as "modern" exploded on the European scene with the French Revolution,
and much of 19th-century history can be viewed as a response to the ideas
of the French Revolutionaries. This course picks up where the Fall semester
left off, at the eve of the First World War, an event that changed the
map of Europe and truly launched Europe into the 20th century.
One of our goals in this semester will be to assess the legacy of the twentieth century as we plan to wave it good-bye next year. On one hand it has been the most violent century in human history; on the other it has witnessed unprecedented achievements in technology and communication. We will also ask if it is possible to study the history of "Europe" as an entity, since society has become more global. The interactions among Europeans and non-Europeans will be explored in depth. Students will also have ample opportunity to focus more narrowly on topics of their choosing.
Course Requirements
Paper #1 (Testament of Youth) 10%
Paper #2 (Night) 10%
Paper #3 (Heat and Dust) 10%
Final Project 10%
Midterm 20%
Final Exam 20%
Class participation (incl. Oral presentations) 20%
The course requirements are designed to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and analyses in a variety of formats. A major goal of this job is to practice writing skills relevant to work in history and outside the field. Therefore, along with the writing assignments, we will hold a variety of "writing workshops" designed around individual skills. The three major writing assignments will be based on the assigned class readings. For each of the 3-5 page papers, you will design a thesis based on the reading and write a coherent essay on the subject of your choice. We will work as a class and individually on this process.
Papers and assignments MUST be turned in the day they are due, since they are designed to prepare you for a fruitful discussion of the readings or an in-class debate. Late papers will not be accepted. All papers must include proper citation for any ideas/quotes from another source. Failure to comply with the rules for citation will result in a lower grade. Intentional plagiarism will result in an F in the course and a disciplinary hearing with the academic integrity office.
I encourage you to rewrite papers and to work with me individually on your writing skills. The higher grade will be factored in to your final grade if you choose to rewrite an assignment.
At the end of the semester, it will be your turn to explore 20th-century history on your own. I encourage you to come up with a creative project, which will display your understanding of the culture, politics, or social life in 20th-century Europe. In the past, students have written fictitious diaries or letters of historical figures; investigated the relationship between culture and politics by exploring the work of an artist or musician; and created a newspaper of a particular historical era. Other ideas would be for you to think of incorporating your individual talents—perform some music for the class; model some drawings or paintings around the work of 20th-century European artists; write poetry or a short story with historical context. These projects will have written and oral components. Have fun! Be creative! Explore!
Class participation is an essential part of this class. It is worth 20% of your grade and includes your participation in class discussions, attendance, group projects, debates, and oral presentations.
The midterm and final exams will include identification and essay questions. You are responsible for information from the assigned readings and lectures.
Extra credit: There will be many cultural events made available to you this semester. I am putting together a European Film festival and some excursions to local areas of interest. Participate in everything you can. If you write a short review of what you experienced and learned, I will give you extra credit toward your final grade. And you will be enriched in the process!
Texts
Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Extremes
Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth
M. Burleigh and W. Wippermann, The Racial State: Germany,
1933-1945
Elie Wiesel, Night
Ruth Prawler Jhabvala, Heat and Dust
Sabrina Ramet, Balkan Babel
Course packet
Course schedule
Week One
READ: Hobsbawm, Intro, Ch. 1; Brittain (part one +)
Tues. Jan 19: Introduction
Fri. Jan. 22: The Age of Total War
Week Two
READ: Hobsbawm, Chapter 2; Brittain (part two), Lenin
"What is to be done?" (handout)
Tues. Jan. 26: A War to End All Wars?
Thesis statement due for Brittain paper. (Carefully
read the Foreward for ideas)
Fri. Jan 29: What is to be done? The Russian Revolutions
of 1917
Brittain essay outline due
Week Three
READ: Finish Brittain
Tues. Feb. 2: Brittain Essay Due. Writing workshop.
Fri. Feb. 5: Discussion of Brittain’s Testament of
Youth
Week Four
READ: Hobsbawm, Ch 6; "The Fourteen Points" and "The
Treaty of Versailles" (course packet)
Tues. Feb. 9 DEBATE: The war is over and the leaders
of the world and Assorted others are gathered at Versailles to make peace.
You will be to represent one of the many constituencies at Versailles.
Write a one-page speech as your character asking for your demands to be
met by the assembly and be prepared to defend your character’s position
in class
Fri. Feb. 12. Weimar Culture and the Crisis of Modernity
Week Five
READ: Hobsbawm, Ch. 3; Stalin "The Results of the First
Five-year Plan" and Mussolini "The Political
and Social Doctrine of Fascism" (course
packet); Burleigh/Wippermann Part One
Tues. Feb. 16: Totalitarianism East: Stalinism
Fri. Feb 19: Totalitarianism West: Mussolini and Franco
Week Six
READ: Hobsbawm, Ch. 4, "Mein Kampf" (packet) Racial
State, Parts Two and Three
Tues. Feb. 23: "Triumph of the Will: The Rise of Hitler"
Fri. Feb. 26: DISCUSSION: The Racial State (Students
will divide into groups of 4-5 and
will be responsible for presenting one chapter from parts
2 and 3 to the class)
Week Seven
READ: Hobsbawm, ch. 5, 7; begin Night
Tues. Mar. 2: Approaching WarFri. Mar. 5: The World at
War
Week Eight
READ: Night
Tues. Mar. 9: DISCUSSION: Night Paper due,
3-5 pages (also hand in thesis statement, outline, rough draft)
Fri. Mar. 12: MIDTERM EXAM
***SPRING BREAK***
Week Nine
READ: Hobsbawm, ch. 8. 9; "Eyewitness to Hitler’s Genocide";
"Fuhrer, You Order; We Obey";
"Address to the Twentieth Party Congress"; "Charter of
the United Nations"
Tues. Mar. 23: Post-War Europe: Ground Zero?
Fri. Mar. 26: CLASS RE-ENACTMENT: The Nuremberg Trials
Week Ten
READ: Hpbsbawm 10, 11, "No Exit"; and Simone de Beauvoir
Readings (packet); Begin Heat and Dust
Tues. Mar 30. Existentialists face a divided Europe
Fri. Apr. 2: GOOD FRIDAY—No class
Week Eleven
READ: Hobsbawm 12, 15; Franz Fanon, "The Wretched of
the Earth," Mohandas Gandhi "Indian Home Rule" and "Debate in the House
of Commons, March 1947" (packet); Finish Heat and Dust
Tues. Apr. 6: Anti-colonialism/De-Colonization
Fri. Apr. 9. DISCUSSION Heat and Dust
Week Thirteen
READ: Ramet, Balkan Babel
Tues. Apr. 20: Death of a Princess, The End of Europe?
Fri. Apr. 23: DISCUSSION Balkan Babel (Students
will break up into groups and present individual chapters to the class)
Week Fourteen
READ: Age of Empire, Chs. 9-11
Tues. Apr. 27 Student Projects
Fri. Apr. 30 Student Projects
FINAL ASSIGMENT DUE. Creative Project