HISTORY 4412-01W                                                                                             Dr. Clark

The Reformation in Europe                                                                         Office: TLC 3205

MWF 10:00-10:50 A.M.                                                                     Phone: 678-839-6031

Pafford 208                                                                  Office hrs. MWF 11:00-12:00; MW 2:00-4:00 P.M.; TTH: 2:00-4:00 P.M. and by appt.

 

 

SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Description:

            This course will investigate the period of time from about the end of the fifteenth century to the end of the seventeenth century, the period of time during which the nominal unity of European Christendom was shattered forever by the growth of new “Protestant” churches.  The major focus will be the major events, people and ideas that helped to shape our modern world: the growth of “individualism,” capitalism, secularism, the “scientific revolution,” the changing status of women and children, the family and the new ideas concerning God and human’s place in the universe.  We will also look at the “dark” side of the period—the growth of intolerance, bigotry, the spread of slavery, witchcraft and the inhumanity of early modern warfare.

            W.A.C. Requirements:  Because this is a course that will count toward students’ Writing Across the Curriculum requirements, it will emphasize the following WAC goals: to encourage students to use writing as a way to learn; to show students how to write effectively in their disciplines, and to improve students' writing skills.

 

Learning Outcomes:

            By the end of the course students will be able:

·        To identify major schools of thought on the Reformation era by notable scholars;

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

·        To summarize the major causes and outcomes of the Reformations;

·        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.

 

Policies and Procedures:

            Class meetings:  Students are expected to attend class each day and to participate in the class discussions.  More than two unexcused absences will result in a lower final grade.  Please make sure that all cell phones, pagers, etc., are turned off before coming into the classroom.  Also, disruptive and non-attending students will be removed from the class rolls.

 

            Tests, Quizzes, In-class essays, etc.: There will be two tests covering the material in the reading assignments and a final exam that will have at least one cumulative question on it.  If class discussion wanes, “pop quizzes” on the assignments may be given.  Students with documented special needs must see me to make special arrangements for test taking and/or other needs.  You will write at least one announced “in-class” essay, the purpose of which is to develop the ability to “write to learn.”  The topic will be announced later.

 

            Papers: There will be two [2] papers due for this class.  The first paper is a book review (not report) on a book selected with the approval of the instructor.  The instructor will distribute guidelines for this three to five-page paper.  The second paper will be a six to eight-page research paper on a topic approved by the instructor.  The instructor will distribute guidelines for the paper.  You will have a chance to rewrite at least one of the essays to improve both your writing and your grade.  The first paper will be due, Friday 18 February, 2005.  The second paper will be due 15 April, 2005.  Sometimes, horrible things happen; your dog eats your paper, your computer crashes, your printer runs out of paper, etc.  That being the case, I will accept papers by class time on the Monday following the due date.  No late papers will be accepted.  Please review the Department’s definition of plagiarism on our website.  Plagiarism will be cause for a final grade of “F” in the course.

            Class discussions:  Part of your final grade will depend upon class participation.  Students are expected to have read the material for the class period and will be expected to be prepared to discuss it.  Often that will mean bringing the correct text to class.

This syllabus is subject to change, so please attend class to keep up with assignments.

 

Grading:

           

The final grade for the course will consist of the following:

                                    1st paper (book review)           10%

                                    2nd paper (research paper)       20%

                                             Re-writing and related       5%

                                    1st test                                     15%

                                    2nd test                                    15%

                                    Class participation                    15%

                                    (includes discussions, in-class

                                    essays and “pop” quizzes if needed)

Final Exam                                                                     20%

                                                                                    100%

 

Required Books:

 

 

Hillerbrand, Hans J. ed. The Protestant Reformation. New York: Harper and Row, 1968

 

Ozment, Steve. When Fathers Ruled: Family Life in Reformation Europe. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1985

 

Tracy, James D.  Europe’s Reformations, 1450-1650. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 1999

 

Graduate students only: Dixon, C. Scott. The German Reformation: The Essential Readings Publisher: Blackwell Publishers (June 1, 1999)

 

Schedule:

 

January:

10        Introduction to the class and period; review of syllabus, policies,

            procedures, etc.

 

            12        Interpreting the Reformations

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, xv-12

 

            14        Interpreting the Reformations (con’d)

                        Reading: Same; Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, Introduction;

Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 13-29

           

17        Martin Luther King Holiday—No class

 

            19        Religion in the Later Middle Ages

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 31-46

 

            21        Religion in the Later Middle Ages (con’d)

                        Reading: Same

 

24        Society and Culture of the Late Middle Ages

            Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 211-238

 

26        Society and Culture of Europe on the Eve of the Reformation

                        Reading: same

 

28        European Politics on the Eve of the Reformation

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 121-143

 

            31        Martin Luther and the Beginnings of the Reformation

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 47-55

February:

 

            2          Martin Luther (con’d)

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, same; Hillerbrand, The

Protestant Reformation, pp., 1-28

 

4          Martin Luther (con’d)

            Reading: same

 

            7          Martin Luther on Government and the Peasants

Reading: Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, pp. 43-87

 

9          FIRST HOUR TEST

 

            11        The Spread of the Reformation in Germany and Switzerland

Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 57-71; Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, pp. 108-121

 

            14        The Swiss and German Reformations (Con’d)

Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 73-85, 89-93

 

            16        The Radical Reformations: The Anabaptists

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, same

 

            18        The Radical Reformations: The Anabaptists (con’d)

Reading: same and Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, pp. 122-136

PAPER DUE TODAY BY 4:00 P.M.

 

            21        The Anabaptists (con’d)

                        Reading: same and Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, pp. 143-152

 

            23        John Calvin and his Geneva

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 85-88, 108-115

 

            25        John Calvin and his Geneva (con’d)

                        Reading: Same and Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, pp.153-213

 

            28        John Calvin (con’d)

                        Reading: same, 93-95

March:

 

2          The Reformation and Religious Wars in France

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 145-153

 

            4          The Reformation in France (con’d)

                        Reading: same and Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, pp. 222-239

 

            7          Religious Wars—The Netherlands, the Habsburgs and beyond

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 153-167

 

            9          Religious Wars and Politics (Con’d)

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 169-183

 

            11        TBA

           

14        SECOND HOUR TEST

           

16        Art and Culture of the Reformations

                        Reading: TBA

 

            18        Art and Culture of the Reformations (con’d)

                        Reading: TBA

 

            21        Spring Break

            23        Spring Break

            25        Spring Break

 

            28        The English Reformation

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 185-210

                         

            30        The English Reformation

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations,

April:

 

            1          The English Reformation (con’d)

                        Reading: same

 

            4          The Elizabethan Settlement

                        Reading: Hillerbrand, The Protestant Reformation, pp. 247-290

 

            6          Society and Community: Across Europe

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 261-285

 

            8          The Reformation and the People: Family Life (con’d)

                        Reading: Ozment, Steve. When Fathers Ruled: Family Life in Reformation

Europe. Ch. 1-2

 

11        The Reformation and the People: Family Life

                        Reading: Ozment, Steve. When Fathers Ruled: Family Life in Reformation

Europe. Ch. 3-4

 

 

            13        TBA

 

            15        TBA

                        PAPER DUE TODAY BY 4:00 P.M.

 

            18        The Catholic Renewal

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 97-108

 

            20        The Catholic Renewal (con’d)

                        Reading: same

 

            22        Legacies of the Reformation

                        Reading: Tracy, Europe’s Reformations, 287-300

 

            25        Legacies of the Reformation: The Dark Side

                        Reading: TBA

 

            27        Legacies of the Reformation: The Dark Side (con’d)

 

            29        Summary and conclusions

 

May:

            2          Summary and conclusions (con’d)

 

Final Examination: Friday, May 6, 2005 8:00-10:00 A.M.