2025
Early Modern History
Name: Early Modern History
Code: HIS02443L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
History
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
This curricular unit provides a broad overview of Early Modern History, mainly focusing on socioeconomic and cultural areas.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
1) To understand the foundations of the political-institutional organization of societies and the main cultural phenomena, as well as their circulation on a global scale from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
2) To understand the spatial framework of analysis (political geography, cultural geography, etc.).
3) To know the factors and agents of continuity and rupture.
4) To master the conceptual vocabulary used in the various thematic areas.
5) To acquire basic notions about the current status of historiographical issues, with a special focus on recent research areas.
6) To develop skills in bibliographic and documentary research, critical reading, analysis, and oral and written presentation. Additionally, to foster autonomy, a spirit of mutual assistance, and responsibility in work.
2) To understand the spatial framework of analysis (political geography, cultural geography, etc.).
3) To know the factors and agents of continuity and rupture.
4) To master the conceptual vocabulary used in the various thematic areas.
5) To acquire basic notions about the current status of historiographical issues, with a special focus on recent research areas.
6) To develop skills in bibliographic and documentary research, critical reading, analysis, and oral and written presentation. Additionally, to foster autonomy, a spirit of mutual assistance, and responsibility in work.
Contents
1. Why study Early Modern History? Problems, central themes, and periodization.
2. Europe from the late 14th century to the late 18th century: strengthening the capacity for intervention of the political center.
3. Population and social structures in the Ancien Régime. Characterization of social hierarchy. Processes of social mobility. Ethnic minorities and marginal groups.
4. The economy of the Ancien Régime: continuities and changes. European expansion and the first economic impacts. The new geographical and commercial framework. Regional inequalities.
5. Renaissance: Humanisms, religious reforms, and European expansion. The ?printing revolution.?
6. ?Scientific Revolution? and Enlightenment. New cultural and social values. Rationalism and the scientific method; religion and modernity; education and the dissemination of ideas; the creation of the public sphere.
7. New trends in studies on the early modern era.
2. Europe from the late 14th century to the late 18th century: strengthening the capacity for intervention of the political center.
3. Population and social structures in the Ancien Régime. Characterization of social hierarchy. Processes of social mobility. Ethnic minorities and marginal groups.
4. The economy of the Ancien Régime: continuities and changes. European expansion and the first economic impacts. The new geographical and commercial framework. Regional inequalities.
5. Renaissance: Humanisms, religious reforms, and European expansion. The ?printing revolution.?
6. ?Scientific Revolution? and Enlightenment. New cultural and social values. Rationalism and the scientific method; religion and modernity; education and the dissemination of ideas; the creation of the public sphere.
7. New trends in studies on the early modern era.
Teaching Methods
The teaching methodologies are diverse, combining the oral presentation by the professor with the development of students' abilities to construct critical thinking about the program content, autonomy in the teaching-learning process, and self-assessment. They value participatory learning that invests in classroom intervention and debate, research autonomy, and the demonstration of organizational, systematization, and information analysis skills. The Moodle platform will be used for the development of teaching activities and for the execution of tasks proposed to the students.
Assessment
I - Continuous Assessment:
Final exam at the end of the semester, covering all course material (50%).
Attendance (5%). Students may not exceed 6 absences.
Practical classes and attendance at a mandatory conference. Participation in these must be accompanied by the submission of a summary report (1000 to 1500 words). Total 20%.
Presentation of one or two short written assignments (up to 1500 words), accompanied by 2 to 3 mandatory tutorial sessions. (25%).
II ? Students in exam mode will be questioned based on a mandatory reading program defined by the instructor. Critical analysis skills will be developed through readings, debates, and written reports on contemporary sources or historiographical texts. These materials will be made available on the Moodle platform. Students will be encouraged to research additional sources and bibliography in libraries, museums, archives, portals, and online bibliographic databases.
Final exam at the end of the semester, covering all course material (50%).
Attendance (5%). Students may not exceed 6 absences.
Practical classes and attendance at a mandatory conference. Participation in these must be accompanied by the submission of a summary report (1000 to 1500 words). Total 20%.
Presentation of one or two short written assignments (up to 1500 words), accompanied by 2 to 3 mandatory tutorial sessions. (25%).
II ? Students in exam mode will be questioned based on a mandatory reading program defined by the instructor. Critical analysis skills will be developed through readings, debates, and written reports on contemporary sources or historiographical texts. These materials will be made available on the Moodle platform. Students will be encouraged to research additional sources and bibliography in libraries, museums, archives, portals, and online bibliographic databases.
Teaching Staff
- Laurinda Faria Santos Abreu [responsible]
Certificações
