History 125A
Fall 1996
Mr. Sabean
Description:
This course deals with the reorganization of power, new forms of
representation, and discourses about rule and obedience in Europe
during the high Renaissance, Reformation, and era of Confessional
consolidation. It deals with the vast growth of European courts,
their changing political functions, and their culture. The theses of
Elias and zur Lippe, who see in court society the genesis of the
'modern individual', will be examined. The course also deals with
recent discussions about popular culture and religion and peasant
society. It will examine the process of producing consent and the
space available for resistance. A central issue will be the complex
problem of social domination. Finally, we will take up the problem of
refashioning religion and power, looking at fragmentation,
localization, reordering of central metaphors, and new forms of
uniformity.
The reading for the course is not closely tied to the lectures and should be considered as an independent exercise. Regular attendance at lectures is expected.
Exams will contain only essay questions, some of which will be
related to the assigned reading. The mid-term exam will count for 40%
of the grade and the final for 60%. There will be no make-up mid-term
exam. Anyone wishing to substitute a paper for the midterm should
discuss topics with the instructor.
Week I
Reading: Koenigsberger, Mosse, and Bowler, Europe in the
Sixteenth Century, pp. 1-90
September 26: Lecture 1: Introduction
Week 2
Reading: Koenigsberger, Mosse and Bowler, Europe in the
Sixteenth Century, pp. 91-386
October 1: Lecture 2: Renaissance courts: a perambulatory review
October 3: Lecture 3: Represenations: entrances and exits
Week 3
Reading: Koenigsberger, Mosse and Bowler, Europe in the
Sixteenth Century, pp. 387-433. Roy Strong, Art and
Power
October 8: Lecture 4: Courtliness and discipline: towards the
geometrization of space
October 10: Lecture 5: Legitimacy and sovereignty: princely courts
and the technology of rulership
Week 4
Reading: Norbert Elias, The History of Manners, vol. 1,
The Civilizing Process
October 15: Lecture 6: Extra-economic coercion: restructuring noble
power
October 17: Lecture 7: Court culture: manners and mannerism
Week 5
Reading: Peter Blickle, The Revolution of 1525
October 22: Lecture 8: Sacralization of kings and princes:
mannerism
October 24: Lecture 9: A Century of Expansion: population, family,
social differentiation
Week 6
Reading: Carlo Ginzburg, Cheese and Worms
October 29: Lecture 10: Community: village social organization
October 31o. Lecture 11: Resistance, rebellion, and death
Week 7
November 5: Mid-term examination
November 7: Lecture 12: Social Orders: discourses of representation, community, resistance
Week 8
Reading: Judith Brown, Immodest Acts
November 12: Lecture 13: The defence of property: family, women, and youth
November 14: Lecture 14: Scatalogical pleasures: carnival
Week 9
Reading: William Christian, Local Religion in Sixteenth-Century Spain
November 19: Lecture 15 religious practice
November 21: Lecture 16
Week 10
Reading: Ronnie Hsia, Myth of Ritual Murder
November 26: Lecture 17: Local practices: fragmentation of the sacred
November 28: Thanksgiving break
Week 11
December 3: Lecture 18: Church and domination: curing souls
December 5: Conclusion: word vs. picture: confessionalism