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Florida International UniversitySpring 2014
EUH 2030Modern Europe
Dr.
Mon, Wed 12:00-12:50; Fri- TA SectionsRafael Diaz-Balart 1100
Office Hours: Mon, Fri 2:00-3:30Office: DM 385-C
Three Credits
History is not a random sequence of unrelated events. Everything
affects, and is affected by, everything else. This is never clear in the
present. Only time can sort out events. It is then, in perspective, that
patterns emerge.
--William Manchester, 1991
Course Description
History is not only an account of what happened, but also why things change. This course is designed to examine modernity, the apex of Europe in the nineteenth century, and its decline in the twentieth. We will survey the period as a whole by selecting significant events, processes, themes, and transitions that have shaped history. Why did Europe expand, conquer, and prosper at the expense of Asia, Africa, and the Americas? How was “the war to end all wars” superseded twenty-one years later by one even more devastating and cataclysmic? Why did Communism take root in Eastern Europe? How could a civilized nation commit systematic genocide or acquiesce in its implementation? The class, in effect, will encompass an overview of the political, economic, social, military, and technological forces as well as the unique and strong personalities, which have contributed to the making of modern Europe. A better comprehension of where we are at present comes from an understanding of the past. In addition to gaining some knowledge of history, the aim of this course is to help students improve their interpretive analyses and critical-thinking skills through reading, writing, and class discussions.
This course fulfills a Lower Division Common Prerequisite for history majors. Written work for this course meets the state composition requirement.
Course Objectives
1.To communicate effectively, in written and oral form, about a variety of issues dealing with modern European history.
2.To formulate an understanding of the important roles of individuals within civilizations.
3.To develop organizational, time-management, and academic skills.
4. To analyze the impact of historical, contemporary, and cultural perspectives.
5.To synthesize information and formulate arguments in written and oral forms.
6.To derive conclusions and solutions based on evidence.
7. To appreciate a multiplicity of perspectives and various points of reference.
Required Texts
M. L. Brillman, ed. Colonial Voices (San Diego: Cognella, 2014)
Primo Levi, Survival in Auschwitz – any edition is fine
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto – any edition is fine
Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front – any edition is fine
Class Structure, Course Requirements, and Other Information
The structure of this class will mainly consist of lectures; however, we will also integrate discussions on primary sources and films to enhance the lecture material.
Sections: On Fridays at various times in various places instead of a lecture, you will have a discussion section with your TA and about twenty-five of your peers. How these meetings are run, assignments, and grading are entirely up to the TA.
Attendance: Your presence in my lectures is expected, and you are responsible for all material presented during class sessions. Although FIU has no official attendance policy, you are enrolled and thus should be in class.
Preparation: Reading is essential for success in this class! The text will supplement and enhance your comprehension of the lectures. Assigned readings should be done during the week prior to your Friday section and will be partial exam material.
Participation: Although this is a lecture course, as mentioned above, some of the course consists of in-class discussions, which will be based on lectures, readings, and a film. Students are expected to participate with questions, responses, reactions, commentary, and opinions (ie, there are no “correct” answers in a good discussion) and to take a chance and talk about some of the themes of the course. My instructional style is Socratic and will hopefully foster a spirit of inquisitiveness and open exchange of ideas that are in accordance with the FloridaInternationalUniversity educational philosophy. Respect for each other, for the course, and for the institution is of utmost importance.The classroom, however, should also be a hospitable setting for intellectual growth. During discussions, students are encouraged to engage each other intellectually. I also make myself available: I encourage you to attend office hours not only to seek assistance, should this become necessary, but also to discuss your intellectual interests and concerns.
Exams: This course includes both mid-term and final exams. The mid-term will be held during sections on Friday March 7. The final exam will be held on Wednesday April 16 during our normal lecture time. Make-up examinations are not encouraged and will only be given with the instructor’s consent.
Academic Honesty: Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a failing grade for the class. Plagiarizing is the act of stealing, appropriating, or using the ideas or writings of another as one’s own. “Paraphrasing” by changing only a few words also constitutes plagiarism. If you copy any more than four to five more words in a row without quotation marks or proper citation, you are guilty of plagiarism. All student work will be reviewed by Turnitin software, which can detect the similarities in any two pieces of writing. Anyone found engaging in academic dishonesty, including cheating during exams, will automatically fail the class, will be reported to the proper FIU authorities, and will have a letter placed in his or her academic file. Expulsion may ensue. Consult the FIU Student Standards of Conduct for more information at
Etiquette: Out of respect for the Professor and other students, all wireless devices except laptops must be turned off for the duration of class. Laptops may be used for taking notes or researching pertinent material, not for checking email, web-surfing, or looking at porn. Extraneous noise should be minimal and I should not hear any voices above my own. Couples should abstain for fifty minutes from making out, groping, or touching of any sort. While my lectures can be very stimulating and I am thrilled that you are in love, this is neither the time nor the place to express that love (it’s probably not going to work out anyway). Failure to adhere to these policies may result in dismissal.
Students with Disabilities and Learning Differences: In order to receive accommodations for testing or other assignments, students with disabilities must register with the DisabilityResourceCenter, 305-348-3532, GC 190. For more information, see
Grading Scale:A 100-94A- 93-90
B+ 89-87B 86-84B- 83-80
C+ 79-77C 76-74C- 73-70
D+ 69-67D 66-64D- 63-60
F 59 and below
Grading ConfigurationSections 30%
Paper 115%
Mid-Term Exam15%
Paper 220%
Final Exam20%
Course Calendar and Assignments:
Week 1:
Monday January 6: No Class
Wednesday January 8: Course Introduction and Syllabus, What Is history?
Friday January 10: First Section Meetings with TAs
Week 2: Jefferson, Dessalines
Monday January 13: Royal Absolutism and the Enlightenment
Wednesday January 15: The French Revolution
Friday January 17: Sections
Week 3: Reading: Marx and Engels
Monday January 20: No Class, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Wednesday January 22: Mercantilism and Free Trade
Friday January 24: Sections
Week 4:Reading :Marx and Engels
Monday January 27: The Industrial Revolution
Wednesday January 29: Marxism, 1848
Friday January 31: Sections
Week 5: Reading: Kipling, Said, Achebe, Macaulay
Monday February 3: Imperialism
Wednesday February 5: Imperialism
Friday February 7: Sections
Week 6: Reading: Hyde, Gandhi, Fanon, Ho Chi Minh
Monday February 10:Decolonization
Wednesday February 12: World War One
Friday February 14: Sections
Week 7: Reading: Remarque
Monday February 17: World War One
Wednesday February 19: World War One
Friday February 21: Sections
Week 8: Reading: Remarque
Monday February 24: The Russian Revolution
Wednesday February 26: Interwar Europe: Fascism in Italy, Spain, and Germany
Friday February 28: Sections
Week 9:
Monday March 3: Interwar Europe: Fascism in Italy, Spain, and Germany
Wednesday March 5: Mid-Term Review
Friday March 7: Mid-Term Exam
Week 10:No Class, Spring Break
Week 11: Reading: Levi
Monday March 17: World War Two
Wednesday March 19: World War Two
Friday March 21: Sections
Week 12: Reading: Levi
Monday March 24: World War Two
Wednesday March 26: The Holocaust
Friday March 28: Sections
Week 13: Reading: Levi
Monday March 31: The Holocaust
Wednesday April 2: The Holocaust
Friday April 4: Sections
Week 14: Reading: Mandela
Monday April 7: Post-War Europe
Wednesday April 9: Post-War Europe
`Friday April 11:Sections
Week 15:
Monday April 14: Final Exam Review, Evaluations
Wednesday April 16: Final Exam
Friday April 18: No Class, Good Friday
** Syllabus subject to change . . . and it usually does **