Anotace
The Comparative History of Europe is designed as methodologically oriented course for advanced students of history and social sciences. It aims to display the principles, advantages and limits of comparative approach and research methods to modern and mainly European history. From this perspective, some of the major processes and phenomena of modern European history will be discussed, such as the modern nation and state building, urbanization and urban cultures, formation of the civil society, and social revolutions. A due attention will be paid to methodology and theoretical foundations of comparative methodology.
The course is primarily addressed to students of TEMA master program, and other advanced (preferably MA) and highly motivated students of history and other social sciences that have already got some knowledge of European history and are get used to reading and discussing longer and more difficult texts in English. The course is NOT planned as a basic overview of European history. The independent knowledge of English (B1/B2) is necessary, the knowledge of French and German is an asset.
The list of themes is provisional and will be adapted to the needs and interests of students: 1) Introduction 2) Comparative approach and methodology 3) Perceptions of Europe 4) Urbanization, cities and states 5) Revolutions and its echoes 6) Middle classes and public sphere 7) Formation of nation states 8) National movements 9) National historiographies 10) National landscapes and cityscapes 11) Final discussion