History 125B

Fall 1998

Mr. Sabean

 

European History in the Seventeenth Century

 

This course deals with the changing nature of state and social domination during the seventeenth century. It examines the redeployment of military violence and the mapping of strategies of discipline onto the population as a whole. It considers absolutism as a political system and looks closely at the culture of the Baroque as a new discourse about power and hierarchy. Of central concern will be the new forms of bureacratic intervention and the practices of the well-ordered "police state." The course will also deal with recent discussions about ways of representing the family, sexuality, and the body and the social and political background to the witch persecution.

 

The reading for the course is not always closely tied to the lectures but provides opportunities for exploring further themes. Regular attendance of lectures is expected. As usual, publishers have made last minute announcements about unavailable texts; however, all of the readings are on reserve in Powell.

 

Exams will consist of essay questions, some of which will be related to the assigned reading. The midterm will count for 40% of the grade and the final for 60%. There will be no makeup midterm. Anyone wishing to substitute a paper for the midterm should discuss topics with the instructor.

 

 

Section I

Political Structures of the Absolutist State

 

Week 1

 

Reading: Thomas Munck, Seventeenth-Century Europe 1598-1700. This textbook is a fine overview of seventeenth-century  society and culture. Unfortunately it appears to be out of print, although there may be a few copies in the bookstore. It is on reserve in Powell. It is important to read the entire book during the first week and a half to obtain a "story line" and to familiarize yourself with the salient features of the period. You will find the book useful throughout the course as a reference tool.

 

October 1: Introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 2

 

Reading: Continue reading Munck.

 

October 6: Warfare: Centralization of Violence

 

October 8: Armies: Reorganization of European Elites

 

 

Week 3

 

Reading: Geoffrey Parker, Military Revolution

 

October 13: Military Discipline: The New Social Program

 

October 15: The Culture of War

 

 

Week 4

 

Reading: William Beik, Absolutism and Society in Seventeenth-Century France, pp. 3-59, 77-116, 149-197, 223-244, 308-328

 

October 20: The Theory of Constancy: Lipsius and His Followers

 

October 22: Sovereignty and Sovereigns: The Articulation of Court Society

 

 

Week 5

 

Reading: Review reading of first three weeks.

 

October 27: Sovereignty and Sovereigns: New Forms of Representation

 

October 29: Midterm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section II

 

Population, Family, and Self

 

 

Week 6

 

Reading: Michael Flinn, European Demographic System

 

November 3: Demographic Structures of the Seventeenth Century

 

November 5: Demographic Crisis of the Seventeenth Century

 

 

Week 7

 

Reading: Molière, Bourgeois Gentleman

 

November 10: Family and Sexuality: Ideology

 

November 12: Family and Sexuality: Practice

 

 

Week 8

 

Reading: Richard van Dülmen, Theater of Horror (on reserve in Powell)

 

November 17: The Body and Textuality

 

November 19: Conscience and Casuistry

 

 

Week 9

 

Reading: Judith Brown, Immodest Acts)

 

November 24: Boundaries of the Self

 

November 26: Thanksgiving (no class)

 

Week 10

 

Reading: Robin Briggs, Witches and Neighbors

 

December 1: The European Witch Persecution

 

December 3: Woman as Witch

 

 

 

Week 11

 

Reading: Maravall, Culture of the Baroque (on reserve in Powell, assignment to be given)

 

December 8: Forms of Resistance to Authority

 

December 10: The Theater of the World