Diplomatic revolutions – the birth of modern European diplomacy (XVI – XVIII centuries) 3104-M3K2-DR
The classes are aimed at graduate students interested in deepening their knowledge of modern history, political history and the history of diplomacy. The first two or three meetings will be devoted to discussing the issue of the diplomatic revolution that took place in Europe in the 16th - 17th centuries. We will study fragments of theoretical works (de Caillers, E. de Vattel) and get acquainted with basic general studies on the history of diplomacy (Nahlik, Wójcik, Michalski).
Then, through the next classes, we will learn about source publications containing the most important types of diplomatic materials: international treaties, diplomatic instructions, diplomatic correspondence and rescripts for deputies, intra-ministerial correspondence in diplomatic matters, political correspondence of rulers. Students will have the opportunity to see both the old (and still used) and the newest source editions. We will also look at particular types of sources on examples of specific missions and their documentation (e.g. the missions of Grzymułtowski from 1686, Leszczyński from 1700, Poniński from 1717, and Chomentowski from 1720). We will discuss problems related to sending correspondence, its classification and decryption, authentication, ratification of documents, the problem of credibility of the information provided, etc.
Selected instructions and reports will be the basis of neographic exercises - i.e. reading manuscripts
There will also be classes introducing you to the techniques of searching for archival materials in Polish and foreign files on the history of modern diplomacy, including online resources.
A detailed plan (along with a list of literature) for the entire semester will be distributed during the first class.
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student:
1. has extensive knowledge of the typology of sources for the history of diplomacy (theoretical treatises on the art of diplomacy, diplomatic instructions, international treaties, diplomatic correspondence (relations and rescripts), mission diaries, envoys, ciphers. Understands the reasons for their variability over time and the consequences of this diversity for the interpretation procedure;
2. has in-depth knowledge of the methods and tools of criticizing various types of diplomatic sources in the research process; perfecting his workshop in the field of auxiliary sciences of history; has an in-depth knowledge of specialist diplomatic terminology; has knowledge of modern tools for recording, transferring and analyzing diplomatic sources, including digital tools;
3. has an in-depth knowledge of the specific language of diplomatic sources; improves neographic skills (reading manuscripts from the modern era)
4. has knowledge of the geography of sources relevant to research on a given epoch and area of history, and knows the historical heritage protection institutions and other entities responsible for these resources;
5. enriches his factual knowledge about the discussed missions, learns to combine facts and draw conclusions.
6. understands the necessity of constant improvement of the historian's research technique.
Assessment criteria
- methods: own work (reading and preparation of given sources); common neographic exercises (reading manuscripts); group discussion on issues in the field of source studies.
- Continuous activity assessment. The condition for passing the exercises is a systematic reading of the assigned material, preparing a discussion of the given sources and source publications, and an intelligent discussion during the classes.
Bibliography
A detailed plan (along with a list of literature) for the entire semester will be distributed during the first class.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: