H i s t o r y 3 0 5 : N o r t h e r n R e n a i s s a n c e a n d R e f o r m a t i o n , 1 4 5 0 - 1 6 2 0 University of Massachusetts AmherstSpring Semester 2001Tues. & Thurs., 1–2:15, Machmer W-17 (Schedule #284679)Prof. Brian W. OgilvieOffice: Herter 624 (tel. 545-1599)Home phone: (413) 253-7593 Mon.–Wed.; (802) 388-9676 Thurs.–Sun. (before 10 PMplease)E-mail: [email protected] hours: Tues. 11–11:45, Wed. 1–2:15, Thurs. 11–11:45, and by appointment.This syllabus is also available on the World Wide Web:<http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~ogilvie/courses/spring01/305/>(link available on the University Web-enhanced Courses page and the History Dept.website)B r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n o f c o u r s e This course examines the origins of modern Europe in the religious, political, and culturalcrucible of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. We will explore the intellectual,economic, and political trends of late medieval Europe, then turn to the origins, course, andeffects of Luther’s theological revolution and responses to it. After considering thetransformative effect of the Reformation on theology, religious ritual, and belief, we willturn to political and cultural responses, from religious war and absolutism, to skepticism,the new science, and theories of toleration. At the end of the semester, you will understandthe complex ways in which the Protestant and Catholic Reformations shaped modernEurope.Summary of requirements: about 125 pages of reading each week (on average), one 4-5 page paper, one 8-10 page paper, one take-home final, attendance and participation.C o u r s e g o a l s This course has several different goals. By the end of the semester, you should be able to:• Describe the social, religious, political, and intellectual background to the Reformation.• Explain the principal theological ideas of the Reformers and how they differed fromtraditional Catholic doctrine.• Describe changes in religious belief and practice from 1400 to 1700.• Explain the effects of the Reformations on social life, culture, politics, and ideas.• Analyze and criticize the argument of a secondary source.• Interpret primary sources from the late Renaissance and Reformation and use them asevidence for historical arguments.Y o u r g o a l s f o r t h e c o u r s e You have just read my goals for the course. You should now take the time to reflect onthose goals and think about any others you might have. In the space below, you can writeHistory 305 Spring 2001 Page 2the reasons you are in this course and any goals on which you wish to concentrate duringit.••••C o u r s e s t r u c t u r e History 305 is a combined lecture-discussion course. Some days there will be more lecture,others there will be more discussion. The readings are assigned weekly, and youshould plan to complete them by the Tuesday of each week. That way we canadjust the amount of time we devote to each topic as we see fit without having to make last-minute changes to the syllabus. If you absolutely can’t finish all the reading for a week byTuesday, read what you can in the order it is printed in the syllabus, and catch up byThursday.C o u r s e r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d g r a d i n g This course is an upper-division history course. History, as a scholarly discipline, requiresa lot of reading, careful attention to detail, and grasping difficult concepts. You should beprepared to spend three to five hours per week outside of class on the reading, and a littlemore time when there are assignments due.1. Attendance and participation (20% of final grade)You will not get much out of the course if you don’t attend class to hear lectures andparticipate in discussion. Much of what you need to know to understand the lateRenaissance and Reformation will be introduced in class, and you will be expected todisplay knowledge of it in papers and the exam. Athletes, musicians, and others who willhave to miss class for University purposes should give me a list in writing as soon aspossible, but in any case by Feb. 22 at the latest.If necessary, I will give occasional quizzes or quickwrites in class.2. One 4-5 page paper (20% of final grade)Due March 1, at 5:00 PM in my office, Herter 624. Topics for the paper will bedistributed on Feb. 8 (three weeks in advance). You may rewrite the paper if you aredissatisfied with the grade.3. One 8-10 page paper (30% of final grade)Due April 26 at 5:00 PM in my office, Herter 624. Topics for the paper will be distributedby March 27 (four weeks in advance). You may rewrite the paper if you are dissatisfiedwith the grade.4. Take-home final exam (30% of final grade)Distributed at the end of the last day of class, May 15. It will be due on May 22, at noonin my office, Herter 624.History 305 Spring 2001 Page 3Option: term paperStudents interested in writing a 20-25 page term paper may do so instead of completingrequirements 3 and 4; the paper will count for 60% of the final course grade. If you areconsidering this option, you must talk to me by the end of February to discuss a topic andadditional reading, though you can change your mind later. This is a good option for thosewho want to explore a specific topic in more depth. The term paper will be due at the sametime the take-home final is due.P o l i c y o n l a t e a s s i g n m e n t s Late assignments will have the maximum grade reduced by one-half letter grade for eachworking day they are late (weekends and holidays