Early modern England: state – society – culture. (selected issues). 2900-MK1-HISTANG-OG

The aim of the lecture is to familiarize students with the key phenomena and processes experienced by England and its inhabitants during the early modern period (16th – 17th centuries). In the two centuries following the devastating War of the Roses (1455 – 1485), the Kingdom of England transformed from a state with a somewhat peripheral status and secondary importance on the international stage into an important participant in European politics, effectively competing with other countries. This was accompanied by dynamic socio-economic and cultural changes, which made England the cradle of the European scientific revolution and the Enlightenment. An important aspect of these transformations was religious issues. The schism initiated by Henry VIII and the so-called state reformation of the 1530s began a complex, centuries-long process of forming a separate Anglican Church. Over time, Anglicanism also became an important element of the English national identity. Parallel to the High Church and official church structures, more radical branches of English Protestantism emerged, which, initially persecuted by the state, gained recognition and guarantees of tolerance by the late 17th century. The early modern period, especially the 17th century, was also a time of constitutional changes in England – laying the foundations for a parliamentary monarchy, strengthening ties with Scotland, and building the framework of the United Kingdom. This period also saw colonial expeditions, laying the foundations for the future maritime power of Great Britain.
These processes will be discussed in a chronological and thematic order, allowing listeners, especially those less familiar with the history of early modern Europe, to better understand the nature and dynamics of the changes taking place.

Type of course

elective courses
general courses

Course coordinators

Jolanta Choińska-Mika
Urszula Kosińska

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, the Student will be able to:
(Knowledge and Skills)
• Use correct terminology and concepts related to the lecture topics;
• Organize events related to the leture topics according to chronological and thematic criteria;
• Explain the origins and assess the consequences of the transformations occurring in early modern England, using the lecture content;
• Present various historiographical opinions on the development of England in the early modern era;

(Personal and Social Competences)

• Acknowledge and respect different points of view and assessments;
• Enhance their competencies in methods of intellectual work, learning, and self-organization

Assessment criteria

The formal requirements for passing the lecture include good attendance (a maximum of two absences without the need for make-up work) and successful completion of the final exam (minimum 30% of points required, minimum 50% for history majors). The final exam (written) will cover only the content presented during the lectures (including the multimedia materials shown). It will assess not only the knowledge of facts, basic concepts, and terminology but also the ability to explain cause-and-effect relationships and substantiate arguments with well-reasoned judgments.

Bibliography

For those interested: the topics discussed during the lecture have an extensive body of literature – unfortunately, only a small portion of it is available in Polish (mainly biographies of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, Elizabeth Tudor, Mary Stuart). Below are a few titles of synthetic works available in the University of Warsaw Library (BUW) that remain relevant in their interpretative layers.
B. Coward, P. Gaunt, Stuartowie: Anglia 1603 – 1714, 2020
J. Guy, Tudor England, OUP 1988;
J. Miller, Stuartowie: królowie Anglii i Szkocji, Bellona 2008;
The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain, ed. K.O. Morgan (several editions)
The Oxford Illustrated History of Tudor and Stuart Britain, ed. J. Morril (several editions)
Both books contain an extensive bibliography that refers to monographic literaturę(several editions).

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2900-MK1-HISTANG-OG in USOSweb