Course Description

Examination of the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century. The class will analyze the great books of the period, and assess the social, cultural, and political context in which new ideas emerged. Themes will include the book trade, gender and sociability, the luxury debate, the construction of race, and revolution.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In addition to the assigned course work, graduate students will be expected to select one of the themes of the class, read intensively in that area, and complete an 18-25 page historiographical essay. The purpose of this essay is to get graduate students to conduct a thorough review of a body of scholarly literature on the Enlightenment. Not only will this help prepare graduate students for oral exams in European history fields, it will expose them to a range of sophisticated historical methodologies. Graduate students will meet regularly with the professor to discuss the progress of this essay.

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Athena Title

The Enlightenment

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Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in HIST 4355H

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Prerequisite

Any HIST course or ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101E or ENGL 1101S or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S or POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student learning Outcomes

• By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the history of the Enlightenment by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the history of the Enlightenment shaped social and cultural identities and attitudes toward knowledge and science, gender and race, art and luxury, and crime and punishment, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to generate their own research question or topic, locate suitable primary and secondary sources, and synthesize their ideas in novel ways.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate their independent research projects in stages and to give and receive constructive feedback through the peer review process.

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Topical Outline

• 1. The Foundational Texts (Science, Religion, and Enlightenment)
• 2. Popular Literature (Novels and Science Fiction)
• 3. New Perspectives (Republicanism, Gender, Race, the Luxury Debate, and Crime and Punishment)
• 4. Modern Critiques of Enlightenment

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Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes

Analytical Thinking

The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.

Communication

The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.

Critical Thinking

The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.

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