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EUH 2030 (Sections U07-U12)—Western Civilization: Europe in the Modern Era

Florida International University
Fall Semester, 2009

Dr. Jeremy Rowan

Office: DM 399
Office Phone: (305) 348-4791
Office Hours: 11:00-12:00 and 2:00-3:00 MW
E-mail: rowanj@fiu.edu

Teaching Assistants:

Mr. Joshua Souliere

E-mail: jsoul001@fiu.edu
Office: DM 390
Office Hours: 4:00-5:00 M and 2:00-3:00 W

Ms. Jessica Allison

E-mail: jalli003@fiu.edu
Office: DM 390
Office Hours: 11:00-1:00 F

Course Description:
This course examines key developments in the origins and nature of Modern Europe, including
political, social, cultural, and economic developments from the 18th century to the present.
Written work meets the state Gordon Rule requirement.

Course Objectives:
The primary objective of this course is to familiarize students with the historical events and
movements that constitute the development of Modern Europe. The course will also focus on the
impact these events and movements had on society and how ordinary people have played
significant roles in shaping history. Secondary objectives are to introduce students to historical
criticism, to develop writing skills, and to encourage critical thinking.

Course Methods:
The course is primarily conducted through lectures, class discussion, collaborative activities, and
power-point/internet presentations. Students must keep well-organized notes from the lectures,
have all written assignments handed in on time, and complete all reading assignments by the due
dates. Students will be held responsible for both the lecture material and all reading
assignments.

Turnitin:
All students must register for this course on Turnitin.com. It is mandatory. The class number is
2807085 and the password is dday. We use Turnitin for multiple reasons: as an anti-plagiarism
device, a gradebook, and finally as an efficient method for contacting the class via e-mail.
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Discussion Sections:
All students will attend the lectures every Monday and Wednesday in DM 100
between 3:00-3:50 PM. Each Friday, students will attend a discussion group session led by your
section TA. It is imperative that you attend the section that you registered for. The discussion
sections will primarily be used for answering (and asking) questions from the primary source
readings. But, the session will also be an opportunity for students to discuss the lectures, prepare
for exams, and peer review each others’ drafts. Remember, discussion/in-class assignments
constitute 20% of the course grade.

Here are the list of sections, times, and room numbers for the Friday discussion sections:

Section 07—1:00-1:50 Room DM 163 Souliere

Section 08—1:00-1:50 Room GC 273B Allison
Section 09—2:00-2:50 Room GC 276 Souliere
Section 10—2:00-2:50 Room GC 275A Allison
Section 11—3:00-3:50 Room DM 144 Souliere
Section 12—3:00-3:50 Room GC 275A Allison

Required Readings:
The West: Encounters and Transformations 2nd Edition (Volume C) by Brian Levack, Edward
Muir, Meredith Veldman, and Michael Maas. Longman.

Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization 7th Edition (Volume 2) Edited by Mark
Kishlansky. Longman.

Candide by Voltaire. Penguin.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Penguin.

Criteria for Evaluation:

2 Exams—each worth 20% of the final course grade
2 Papers, including rough draft and peer response—each worth 20% of the course grade
In-class writing assignments, quizzes, class participation—worth 20% of the final grade

Each exam will cover the material since the previous exam. STUDENTS ARE TO BRING A
BLUE EXAMINATION BOOKLET TO CLASS ON THE EXAM DATES. BLUE BOOKS
ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE CAMPUS BOOKSTORE.

Writing and critical thinking are primary components of this class.

Frequently, we will talk about the expectations for writing in the field of
history. We will analyze, for example, the style and form of writing presented
in your texts and in articles we read. Even if you do not plan to be an
historian, such awareness of disciplinary communication will be useful to
you, no matter your major or career.
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To meet the state of Florida’s Gordon Rule writing requirements, you will
complete a sequence of writing assignments, ranging from informal in-class
writings to essay exams and formal essays. You will frequently be asked to
write reading responses and in-class collaborative writing assignments.
These assignments provide evidence of your reading and comprehension of
the material; they prepare you to participate in class discussion, and they
also facilitate your understanding of the readings. You will also complete
essay exam questions on your two major exams, and write two thesis-driven
essays that synthesize main ideas from the course. I will provide you with
detailed assignment sheets for these essays. A week before their due date,
you’ll be asked to bring a rough draft of your essay to class for peer review.
You are expected to hand in a hard copy of your writing assignment at the beginning of the class
on the due date. Electronic submissions are not acceptable. Late writing assignments will be
penalized a letter grade for every class period that the paper is late. Furthermore, your final draft
of your research papers will be electronically sent to Turnitin.com to avoid any problems with
plagiarism.

Make-up Exams:
No make-up exams will be given except in cases of illness and/or emergency. A doctor’s note
must be presented upon the instructor’s request for a make-up exam to be given. If no note is
forthcoming, the instructor retains the right to refuse to administer a make-up exam. A doctor’s
or dental appointment which is a non-emergency, and which, therefore, can be reasonably
rescheduled, is not a valid excuse. Unexcused missed exams will receive an automatic grade of
0%.

Grading:
In the course, grading will follow the scale below:
A = 100-94 %
A- = 93-90%
B+ = 89–86%
B = 85-83%
B- = 82-80%
C+ = 79–76%
C = 75-73%
C- = 72-70%
D+ = 69-66%
D = 65-63%
D+ = 62-60
F = 59% and below

Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend both the lectures and the discussion group
sessions. Listening to the lectures and participating in class discussion and
the in-class writing assignments are essential to success in this course.
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Academic Dishonesty Policy:

Cheating and Plagiarism
a. Cheating is defined as the attempt, successful or not, to give or obtain
information by illicit means in meeting any academic requirements including,
but not limited to, examinations;
b. Plagiarism is defined as the use, without proper acknowledgement, of the
ideas, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse from another writer or
speaker.

Students are expected to know and abide by the academic dishonesty policy as
outlined in the university handbook and catalogue.

Students are therefore warned: Cheating and/or plagiarism in are grounds for an
automatic grade of “F”.

Student Behavior:
All FIU University students are expected to behave according to the accepted norms that ensure
a climate wherein all can exercise their right to learn. Such norms are set forth in the
undergraduate catalogue. Please be sure that you have read and understood the section. No
faculty member will tolerate classroom behavior that violates these norms. Such behavior will
be grounds for withdrawal from the class, judicial proceedings, and/or failure of the course.

Class Schedule:

Week 1:
Monday, August 24—Course Introduction and Syllabus
Reading: Levack “What is the West?” (pp. 3-9)

Wednesday, Aug 26—18th Century Society and Culture

Friday, Aug 28—Discussion Session on Levack

Reading: Kishlansky # 92, 93, 97; and Candide

Week 2:
Monday, Aug 31—The Spread and Influence of the Enlightenment; The French Revolution

Wednesday, Sept 2—The French Revolution

Friday, Sept 4— Discussion Session: Kishlansky and Candide

Week 3:
Monday, Sept 7—NO CLASS (LABOR DAY)

Wednesday, Sept 9—The French Revolution and Napoleon

Reading: Levack Ch. 19; Kishlansky #99, 100, 101

Friday, Sept 11—Discussion Session: Kishlansky

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Week 4:
Monday, Sept 14—Napoleonic Era

Wednesday, Sept 16—Napoleonic Era; Congress of Vienna

Friday, Sept 18—Discussion Session: “Writing a Research Paper”

Week 5:
Monday, Sept 21—Industrial Revolution
Reading: Levack Chapter 20 and Kishlansky Reading: Kishlansky # 103,
104, 105

Wednesday, Sept 23—Industrial Revolution (cont.)

Friday, Sept 25—Discussion Session: Essay 1 Rough Draft Due (Peer Review); Kishlansky

Week 6:
Monday, Sept 28—Effects and Spread of Industrialization
Reading: Kishlansky #106, 108, 110, 111

Wednesday, Sept 30 —Essay 1 Due; Reaction and Reform

Reading: Levack Chapter 21

Friday, Oct 2—Discussion Session: Kishlansky

Week 7:
Monday, Oct 5 —Nationalism and Unification
Reading: Levack Chapter 22; Kishlansky # 115,116

Wednesday, Oct 7—Nationalism and Unification cont.

Friday, Oct. 9—Discussion: Kishlansky and Exam Review

Week 8:
Monday, Oct 12—Age of Mass Politics

Wednesday, Oct 14—Age of Mass Politics cont.

Friday, Oct 16—First Exam

Reading: Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde

Week 9:
Monday, Oct 19—Scientific Transformations
Reading: Levack Chapter 23

Wednesday, Oct 21— Cultural Crisis and New Imperialism

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Friday, Oct 23—Discussion: Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde

Week 10:
Monday, Oct 26—Origins of World War I
Reading: Levack Chapter 24

Wednesday, Oct 28—World War I

Friday, Oct 30—Discussion Session: Essay 2 Rough Draft (peer review)

Week 11:
Monday, Nov 2—Post-war Revolutions; Paris Peace Conference

Wednesday, Nov 4—Interwar Years

Friday, Nov 6—No Discussion Session: Essay 2 Due

Week 12:
Monday, Nov 9—Interwar Years
Reading: Levack Chapter 25; Kishlansky #132, 134, and 135

Wednesday, Nov 11— NO CLASS (VETERANS DAY)

Friday, Nov 13—Discussion Session: Kishlansky

Week 13:
Monday, Nov 16—World War II
Reading: Levack 26; Kishlansky # 136, 137, 138

Wednesday, Nov 18—World War II cont.

Friday, Nov 20—Discussion Session: Kishlansky

Week 14:
Monday, Nov 23—World War II cont.; Cold War
Reading: Levack Chapter 27

Wednesday, Nov 25—Post-War Politics and Society

Friday, Nov 27— NO CLASS (THANKSGIVING)

Week 15:
Monday, Nov 30—Post-War Politics and Society
Reading: Kishlansky # 144, 142, 143
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Wednesday, Dec 2—Contemporary Europe

Friday, Dec 4—Discussion Session: Kishlansky and Final Exam Review

Week 16:

TBA—Final Exam—DM 100