IHIS127 — Interpreting European History
This module looks at key developments which transformed European society betwen 1789 and 1919. In 1789, Europe was predominantly an agrarian society with very little industrial and urban development. Landed elites were still dominant as a conservative influence in the vast majority of states, which were resistant to political and social change. By 1919, Europe had been transformed into a society in which state power lay in the hands of urban-based political parties with industry and trade as the dominant forms of economic activity. The module is primarily concerned with the broad political, economic and social influences that caused this transformation, a transformation which was to be of immense significance for Europe and the world during the twentieth century. Certain themese are considered e.g. The Idea of Revolution in Europe 1789-1919, Who were the Europeans? Interpreting economic change, and there are a number of case studies-Racism, Socialist, Causes of the First Worl War, Russian Revolution.