European History, Society and Culture from edX

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand how the french revolution, the napoleonic era and the congress of vienna transformed europe and the world
Learn about european colonialism as well as their contemporary legacy
Explore a variety of ideas, movements and ideologies that influenced european arts, society and politics

Understand the emergence of different types of european and international organisations
Gain the critical skills to understand historical transformations

Understand how the french revolution, the napoleonic era and the congress of vienna transformed europe and the world
Learn about european colonialism as well as their contemporary legacy
Explore a variety of ideas, movements and ideologies that influenced european arts, society and politics
Understand the emergence of different types of european and international organisations
Gain the critical skills to understand historical transformations

Syllabus

Module 1: Reason, Rights and Revolutions

This first module is meant for you to start getting familiar with the way this MOOC works as well as with the typology of content and exercises that this course offers. You will start your journey at the end of the 18th century by discovering the idea of torture, its logic, and the dynamics that brought it to its abolition. Next, we will focus on human rights, on their development in Europe and beyond as well as on their impact in the context in the context of enlightenment and revolutions. Finally, the last three parts of this module are dedicated to revolutions: the circulation of revolutionary ideas, their end, and their legacy.

Module 2: Ambition for European Unity

In this module, you will get familiar with the ideas of empire and nation and understand how they contributed to the reshaping of the European political landscape from the French Revolution until today. Here, we will zoom in on the consequence of important historical moments such as the rise and fall of Napoleon and the new assets that arose from the Congress of Vienna. Also, you will learn about the political, social and cultural changes that the major European empires experienced over the 19th century.

Module 3: Technocratic Unity

In the third module, you will learn about the connection between emerging technologies, industrialisation and their impact on their landscape environment and agriculture. You will get familiar with the concept of technocracy and reflect on how the rise of industrialisation led to the development of European networks for transportation, energy and telecommunications.

Module 4: Colonisation and Decolonization

Colonialism greatly impacted different parts of the globe, leading to the emergence of multiple colonial realities. For this reason, the concept of “colonialism” is not always easy to define. In this module, we provide conceptual clarity, we get familiar with colonial realities in the past as well as the present, and we provide different historical perspectives to approach colonial histories.

Module 5: A New Europe Through Art: The Avant-Garde's "New Man"

In the fifth module, you will learn about the Avant-garde movement. What were its main characteristics? How does it insert itself into the 20th-century political and cultural landscape? Here, you will get familiar with the cultural geopolitics, (inter)nationalism and alter-rationalism of the avant-garde's project and be guided to the discovery and analysis of meaningful avant-gardes works.

Module 6: Social Europe

In the seventh module, by focusing on topics such as human rights and social security, you will explore different dimensions of social Europe. We will recapitulate the whole history of Europe since the Age of Revolutions, adopting a critical and decentering perspective. Also, you will see that Europe is not quite the fairy tale that it is often imagined to be: in contrast, it is a history of advances and set-backs, of roads taken and not taken, of inclusion as well as exclusions, of great ideas and principles as well as of ambiguities, ambivalences and outright hypocrisy – in the sum of the history of human beings, struggling to make their world a better place.

Module 7: Borders, Migration and Diversity

This module is built around the questions of what happens when we cross a border and how that experience varies for different individuals and groups. You will explore what borders are and do, and what it means to live within European boundaries for people with a migration background. You will learn about the First World War and look at it as a moment of exchange, zooming in on Muslim soldiers in a European war. Also, we will provide you with the right tools to investigate how diversity expanded quickly in Europe after the Second World War and which effect this had on European imaginaries and (self-)perception. Lastly, we look at the figure of the refugee in the postwar world, focusing on the special case of the Ugandan Asians in the 1970s.

Good to know

Know what's good

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, and possible dealbreakers

Explores European history, society and culture in depth

Examines European history and culture from multiple perspectives

Taught by experts in European history and culture

Provides a strong foundation for advanced studies in European history and culture

Delves into specific events and developments to understand their impact on Europe and the world

Requires no prior knowledge of European history or culture

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in European History, Society and Culture with these activities:

Read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

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Provides a comprehensive overview of human history, setting the context for understanding European historical events and their global impact.

View Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts and arguments

Review key events and movements in Euro History

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Refreshes essential terms, ideas, and events that will be covered during the course's duration.

Browse courses on European History

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Create a timeline outlining key events in European history
Summarize the characteristics and impact of major European movements, such as the Renaissance and the Enlightenment

Explore online resources on European history

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Enhances understanding by providing additional perspectives and materials beyond the course content.

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Identify reputable online resources, such as museum websites or historical archives
Explore these resources to gain a deeper understanding of specific historical events or topics

Five other activities

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Compile a resource list on European history

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Organizes and expands available resources, providing a personalized and easily accessible reference point for further learning.

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Gather online articles, videos, and podcasts on specific topics related to the course
Create an annotated bibliography or a digital folder to organize the resources

Discuss key historical concepts with peers

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Enhances understanding through discussions and knowledge exchange with other learners, reinforcing key historical concepts.

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Identify a topic or question for discussion
Join or create a study group or online forum to engage with peers
Actively participate in discussions, sharing insights and perspectives

Create a historical timeline or infographic

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Improves comprehension by visualizing historical events and their relationships.

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Select a specific topic or period in European history
Research and gather information from reliable sources
Design and create a timeline or infographic that presents the information in a clear and engaging way

Analyze historical documents and sources

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Strengthens critical thinking and analytical skills by working with primary and secondary sources.

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Select a historical document or source relevant to the course material
Analyze the source's context, author's purpose, and biases
Draw inferences and make connections to the broader historical narrative

Participate in a historical trivia contest

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Provides a gamified and engaging way to test knowledge and learn new historical facts.

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Find a historical trivia contest or competition that aligns with the course topics
Study and prepare for the contest
Participate in the contest and challenge yourself

Career center

Learners who complete European History, Society and Culture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past. They use their knowledge of history to understand the present and predict the future. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful historian, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the major events and trends in European history, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the world today.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Museum curator

Museum curators plan and oversee the care and display of museum collections. They may also conduct research, write articles and books, and give lectures. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful museum curator, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of European art and culture, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the museum field.

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Archivist

Archivists acquire, preserve, and make accessible historical documents. They may also conduct research, write articles and books, and give lectures. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful archivist, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of European archives, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the archival field.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and use information. They may work in public libraries, school libraries, or special libraries. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful librarian, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of libraries, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the library field.

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Teacher

Teachers help students learn about a variety of subjects. They may work in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, or colleges. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful teacher, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of education, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the teaching field.

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Journalist

Journalists gather, analyze, and report on news and current events. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or television stations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful journalist, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of journalism, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the journalism field.

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Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters. They may work in a variety of settings, including private law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful lawyer, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of law, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the legal field.

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Politician

Politicians make and enforce laws. They may work in local, state, or national government. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful politician, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of politics, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the political field.

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Economist

Economists study how people produce, distribute, and consume goods and services. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful economist, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of economics, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the economic field.

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Sociologist

Sociologists study human society and social behavior. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful sociologist, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of sociology, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the sociological field.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study the behavior, origin, and development of humans. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful anthropologist, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of anthropology, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the anthropological field.

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Geographer

Geographers study the Earth's surface and its human and natural environments. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful geographer, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of geography, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the geographical field.

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Psychologist

Psychologists study the human mind and behavior. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful psychologist, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of psychology, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the psychological field.

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Social Worker

Social workers help people cope with personal and social problems. They may work in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, and social service agencies. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful social worker, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of social work, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the social work field.

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Urban Planner

Urban planners develop plans for the use of land and buildings in cities and towns. They may work for government agencies, private planning firms, or non-profit organizations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful urban planner, including research, writing, and critical thinking skills. You will also learn about the history of urban planning, which will give you a strong foundation for understanding the urban planning field.

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