SYLLABUS

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

From the bloody accession of Henry VII at Bosworth Field to the bloodless “Glorious Revolution” of 1688 to the last of the Stuarts, is a fascinating and vital part of the history of England. It is the age of the excesses of Henry VIII, the Protestant Reformation, Shakespeare and Marlowe, the Virgin Queen and the Spanish Armada, the Civil War and the Great Protector, the creation of the modern English state and the peopling of the New World. This course will examine the people and events which shaped this intriguing period, so vital to the American experience, and of perennial interest to all those curious about this colorful period of history.

England underwent fundamental changes from the late fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries in virtually all areas of life. The transfer from the feudal monarchy to “king in parliament,” from a manorial economy to a capitalistic one, from a rural to an increasingly urban society, from one Catholic nation to a Protestant one which tolerated the minority of Catholics, from a nation whose power rested with a baronial aristocracy to one where “landed gentry” held sway, from a “second-rate” power to Europe’s strongest, tells only part of the story. Social mobility, class structure, family patterns, eating patterns, dressing codes, gender associations, popular culture, and so on, also were altered.

LEARNING OUTCOMES AND GOALS:

The goals of the course are to make students more aware of the process whereby English life was changed forever through the occurrences of the Tudor/Stuart period. We will look also at the historiographical problems of interpretation of those events. We will be examining the history and historiography of the period, at the chief political, social, economic, and religious events of the period and their interactions. Other topics covered will be the English Reformation, the Tudor “revolution” in government, the causes and effects of demographic changes and inflation, the changes in structure of England’s economy, social structure, and mobility; household patterns; class and gender issues, popular culture, radicalism and the continuing debate over the English Revolution, and the consequences of all of these changes.

By the end of the course students will be able:

· To identify major schools of thought on the Tudor-Stuart era by notable scholars;

· To describe the major events, persons and ideas that shaped the period;

· To summarize the major causes and outcomes of the English Reformation, the “revolution in government,” and the English Civil War;

· To analyze documentary sources from the period and synthesize these materials in various formats, e.g., oral presentations, class discussions, research papers;

· To analyze secondary materials and to present the ideas of various scholars in research papers and oral presentations.

· Graduate students will be able to lead a class discussion and present the results of their own research to the class.

REQUIREMENTS:

One Hour Mid-Term Exam 15%

One Final Examination: 30%

One Research Paper (10-15 pages) 30%

Two short (two-page) response papers 10%

Class participation and “pop quizzes” 15%

You may substitute an annotated bibliography of ten to fifteen books on a particular topic for the hour examination.

NOTE: All topics for bibliographies and papers must be approved by the instructor.

Examinations will consist typically of essays and short answers, the latter typically in the form of identification and significance questions. Occasionally, fill-in-the-blanks may be used. If attendance or enthusiasm wanes, “pop quizzes” may be given. Pop quiz grades will be included in the class participation portion of the grade.

Papers—Reviews will be double-spaced and typed with normal margins. Directions will be distributed in class. Students are also urged to look at the plagiarism statement on the Department’s website. The book review will be due 22 June. I will distribute directions. The research paper is due 25 July. All papers are due in my office no later than 4:00 P.M. on the day assigned. Sometimes illness and accidents occur. If something dire does occur, you may turn in the review or research paper by class time the next class period following the due date with no penalty. No late papers will be accepted.

Response papers: Each student will write two response papers based upon the discussion questions at the beginning of each of the nine chapters of the Key and Bucholz Sources and Debates book. You may choose one question from two different chapters on which to write your response paper. I will grade your papers based upon on how well you answer the question using the materials included in that chapter. The due dates for those papers will be the final date for discussion of those chapters in class.

Reading: I expect students to participate in the class discussions and to have read the material in preparation for class.

"Blue Books:" Students are required to bring three small "blue books" to class prior to the first examination. Please sign your name in the upper right-hand corner.

Class Discussions: I will assign articles on which you will report to the class. Dates for those reports are noted in the syllabus.

Procedures, policies, etc.:

Students are expected to attend class and participate in class activities. Students missing class are still responsible for work done in that class or announcements made. Since class participation is part of the final grade, non-attendance will result in a zero for class participation for the day. More than two unexcused absences will lower your final grade. Non-attending and disruptive students will be removed from the class.

Students with documented special needs should make arrangements prior to any examinations.

Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, beepers, etc., before entering the classroom.

REQUIRED BOOKS:

Cressy, David, Agnes Bowker’s Cat: Travesties and Transgressions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Jones, Norman L. The English Reformation: Religion and Cultural Adaptation. New York: Blackwell, 2002

Key, Newton and Robert Bucholz eds., Sources and Debates in English History, 1485-1714. New York: Blackwell, 2004

Lockyer, Roger, Tudor and Stuart Britain, 1471-1714. 3^rd ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2004

SCHEDULE:

UNIT I: The Late Medieval Background

Reading for this unit: Lockyer, Roger, Tudor and Stuart Britain, 1471-1714; Preface and Ch. 1; Key, Newton and Robert Bucholz eds., Sources and Debates in English History, 1485-1714; Preface; ch. 2 to p. 36; ch. 3 to p. 47

June

6 Introduction, policies and procedures; England in the late Middle Ages

8 The Wars of the Roses

UNIT II: The Land and People of England

Reading for this unit: Lockyer, Roger, Tudor and Stuart Britain, 1471-1714; chs. 6, 17, 22; Key, Newton and Robert Bucholz eds., Sources and Debates in English History, 1485-1714. ch. 1

13 Social Structure and Mobility

15 Family, Kin, and Household; Women in English Society

UNIT III: The English Economy and its Transformation

Reading for this unit: Lockyer, Roger, Tudor and Stuart Britain, 1471-1714; chs. 6, 10, 17, 22

20 Agriculture and Rural Society

22 Commerce and Expansion; Occupation and Industry

Annotated Bibliography Due

UNIT IV: The English Reformation and its Aftermath; Tudor Revolution in Government

Reading for this unit: Lockyer, Roger, Tudor and Stuart Britain, 1471-1714; chs. 2-5, 7-9; Jones, The English Reformation, entire; Key, Newton and Robert Bucholz eds., Sources and Debates in English History, 1485-1714. ch.2-3.

27 The English Reformation Debate; HOUR TEST

29 Church and State

July

6 Reformation Parliaments and their consequences; Edward’s Reign and Reform; The Catholic Reaction; The Elizabethan Compromise

11 Class reports led by graduate students

UNIT V: ORDER AND DISORDER IN ENGLAND

Reading for the unit: Cressy, David, Agnes Bowker’s Cat: Travesties and Transgressions. Entire: (Readings to be assigned for class reports); Key, Newton and Robert Bucholz eds., Sources and Debates in English History, 1485-1714. ch. 5

13 Religion and Social Order

18 Gender and Order; Disorder and Society; Witchcraft; Class reports led by graduate students

UNIT VI: THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR: CAUSES AND OUTCOME

Reading for the unit: Lockyer, Roger, Tudor and Stuart Britain, 1471-1714; chs.11-16; Stone, Causes of the English Civil War; esp. ch. 3-4; Key, Newton and Robert Bucholz eds., Sources and Debates in English History, 1485-1714. ch. 6-9 (selections)

20 Recent Debates on the Causes of Revolution; Social and Economic pressures; Political and military events; Class reports led by graduate students

25: Radicalism and Reaction; The Restored Monarchy; Consequences of the English Revolution; The Reign of Queen Anne

Research paper due in my office today by 4:00 P.M.

FINAL July 29, 3:00-5:00 P.M.