Module Descriptors
INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY EUROPE (TWENTIETH CENTURY EUROPEAN HISTORY)
XXXX46911
Key Facts
Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies
Level 4
10 credits
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 24
Independent Study Hours: 56
Total Learning Hours: 80
Assessment
- EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 100%
Module Details
Module Additional Assessment Details
1x2 hour unseen examination = 100%
Module Assessment
A EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS length 2 HOUR(S) weighted at 100%.
Module Indicative Content
This course attempts an explanation of present-day European politics with reference to key themes of Europe's twentieth century history. It examines European rivalries and nationalisms in 1914, and the devastating impact of the First World War; the Russian Revolutions and the profound ideological opposition between East and West which resulted; the nature of fascism in the interwar period and its relevance to today's European politics; the political eclipse and moral degradation of Europe during the Second World War; the division of the continent by the Cold War; and the conflicting ideologies of Communism and Fascism, and the persistence, down to and beyond 1989, of two Europes, the reconciliation of whose differences is the pricipal task of the coming century.
Module Learning Outcome
On completion, you should be able to demonstrate these general learning outcomes:
- a greater familiarity with the methods used in evaluating historical evidence
- the abiltiy to target your reading around specific subjects
- the ability critically to evaluate secondary sources
- the ability objectively to analyse a subject in examination conditions
- the ability to make the most of the resources available in ther University Library and elsewhere.
You should also be able to demonstrate these specific learning outcomes:
- an understanding of the reasons for the ending of European primacy in the 20th century
- an appreciation of the differing perspectives possible on comtemporary Europe, as both a model of 'civilisation' and the breeding ground of barbarism
- an understanding of the dominant ideologies in 20th century Europe, including communism, fascism, liberal democracy and social democracy
- an understanding of the reasons for Europe's political, economic and cultural duality since 1945, both before and after the collapse of East European Communism.
- a greater familiarity with the methods used in evaluating historical evidence
- the abiltiy to target your reading around specific subjects
- the ability critically to evaluate secondary sources
- the ability objectively to analyse a subject in examination conditions
- the ability to make the most of the resources available in ther University Library and elsewhere.
You should also be able to demonstrate these specific learning outcomes:
- an understanding of the reasons for the ending of European primacy in the 20th century
- an appreciation of the differing perspectives possible on comtemporary Europe, as both a model of 'civilisation' and the breeding ground of barbarism
- an understanding of the dominant ideologies in 20th century Europe, including communism, fascism, liberal democracy and social democracy
- an understanding of the reasons for Europe's political, economic and cultural duality since 1945, both before and after the collapse of East European Communism.
Module Learning Strategies
These learning strategies will occupy your time:
80 hours total learning time, of which24 hours will be class contact (12 1-hour lectures and 12 1-hour seminars), 56 hours will be allocated to independent learning.
You will be encouraged to acquire the skills implicit in historical study, including rational note-taking, debating issues raised by the lectures, preparing and making an individual or small-group presentation in class, researching for this and the examination, and evaluating the worth of what you find.
The independant learning time, in particular, will allow for individual or group study, but also for tutorial guidance on reading material and th preparation of class work and examination questions.
80 hours total learning time, of which24 hours will be class contact (12 1-hour lectures and 12 1-hour seminars), 56 hours will be allocated to independent learning.
You will be encouraged to acquire the skills implicit in historical study, including rational note-taking, debating issues raised by the lectures, preparing and making an individual or small-group presentation in class, researching for this and the examination, and evaluating the worth of what you find.
The independant learning time, in particular, will allow for individual or group study, but also for tutorial guidance on reading material and th preparation of class work and examination questions.
Module Resources
Recommended Library secondary sources.
Module Texts
Joll, James. Europe since 1870: An International History, 4th ed. (London: Penguin 1990)
Roberts, J.M. The Penguin History of Europe (London: Penguin 1997)
Gilbert, Felix & Large, David Clay. The End of the European Era: 1890 to the present, 4th ed.
(London: Norton 1991)
Edye, D. & Lintner, V. Contemporary Europe (London: Prentice Hall 1996)
Roberts, J.M. The Penguin History of Europe (London: Penguin 1997)
Gilbert, Felix & Large, David Clay. The End of the European Era: 1890 to the present, 4th ed.
(London: Norton 1991)
Edye, D. & Lintner, V. Contemporary Europe (London: Prentice Hall 1996)