Course Contents
Of suns and sea monsters: The history of absolutism

Current historical research takes a skeptical view of the concept of absolutism, even speaking of a myth. Nevertheless, images like that of the "Sun King" and supposed quotations like "L'Etat, c'est moi" remain firmly anchored in textbooks and collective memory.

This proseminar would like to approach the epoch commonly referred to as absolutism (16th-18th centuries in Europe) and, using the example of forms and legitimations of rule (here the sea monster sends its regards), ask how historiography functions and, moreover, trace the emergence of the modern European state.

This course uses this exemplary topic as an introduction to the field of Modern History and the study of history in general. During the semester, you will deal with the basic questions and approaches of the subject area and become acquainted with (digital and analog) working techniques that are of central importance for the further course of study. Emphasis is placed on text evaluation, argumentation methods, research, citation methods, and presentation skills, among others. In the course of the semester, numerous weekly assignments are to be completed, the conscientious completion of which will enable you to master the written exam and the term paper at the end of the semester. 

The course is supported by a mandatory tutorial. When planning your semester, please note to set aside approximately one-third of your weekly work time for this course; in addition to the three course dates per week, you will need to plan several hours for pre- and post-work. This is "priced in" to your study and examination schedule, as the passed course will result in 10 credits (out of approximately 30 credits to be earned per semester) at the end of the semester (all questions around scheduling for the first semester will be answered at the Institute of History's orientation meeting on October11). 

In terms of course objectives, this proseminar is identical to the proseminars offered by Ms. Engelschalt and Mr. Mares (only the exemplary topics differ). If one of the events is fully booked, please register in one of the parallel offerings where places are still available


 

Literature
Asch, Ronald G./Duchhardt, Heinz (Hrsg.): Der Absolutismus – ein Mythos? Strukturwandel monarchischer Herrschaft in West- und Mitteleuropa (ca. 1550–1700),, Köln 1996.

Blanning, Tim: Glanz und Größe. Der Aufbruch Europas 1648-1815, München 2022.

Duchhardt, Heinz/Schnettger, Matthias: Barock und Aufklärung. (neu bearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage von Das Zeitalter des Absolutismus), Berlin/Boston 2015 (5. Auflage) (= OGG 11).

Horowski,Leonhard: Das Europa der Könige. Macht und Spiel an den Höfen des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts, Reinbek b. Hamburg, 2018.

Stollberg-Rilinger, Barbara (Hrsg.): Herstellung und Darstellung von Entscheidungen. Verfahren, Verwalten und Verhandeln in der Vormderne, Berlin 2010.

Official Course Description
[b]Of suns and sea monsters: The history of absolutism[/b]

Current historical research takes a skeptical view of the concept of absolutism, even speaking of a myth. Nevertheless, images like that of the "Sun King" and supposed quotations like "L'Etat, c'est moi" remain firmly anchored in textbooks and collective memory.

This proseminar would like to approach the epoch commonly referred to as absolutism (16th-18th centuries in Europe) and, using the example of forms and legitimations of rule (here the sea monster sends its regards), ask how historiography functions and, moreover, trace the emergence of the modern European state.

This course uses this exemplary topic as an introduction to the field of Modern History and the study of history in general. During the semester, you will deal with the basic questions and approaches of the subject area and become acquainted with (digital and analog) working techniques that are of central importance for the further course of study. Emphasis is placed on text evaluation, argumentation methods, research, citation methods, and presentation skills, among others. In the course of the semester, numerous weekly assignments are to be completed, the conscientious completion of which will enable you to master the written exam and the term paper at the end of the semester. 

The course is supported by a mandatory tutorial. When planning your semester, please note to set aside approximately one-third of your weekly work time for this course; in addition to the three course dates per week, you will need to plan several hours for pre- and post-work. This is "priced in" to your study and examination schedule, as the passed course will result in 10 credits (out of approximately 30 credits to be earned per semester) at the end of the semester (all questions around scheduling for the first semester will be answered at the Institute of History's orientation meeting on October11). 

In terms of course objectives, this proseminar is identical to the proseminars offered by Ms. Engelschalt and Mr. Mares (only the exemplary topics differ). If one of the events is fully booked, please register in one of the parallel offerings where places are still available

 

Online Offerings
moodle

Semester: WT 2023/24
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