CULTURE AND SOCIETY IN THE EARLY MODERN EUROPE
History 212, Fall 2006
Aslı Niyazioğlu aniyazioglu@ku.edu.tr
Office hours: TueThu. 11-12
FEN 215
This course introduces some of the major themes of the early modern European cultural history from the late Middle Ages to the French Revolution. In addition to providing a general survey, it aims to familiarize the students with the modern historiography, that is, the writing of history, of this period. Topics will include the crisis of the late Middle
Ages; the Renaissance of the Italian humanists; popular culture and social control; science, magic, and wonders; women and their world; witches and witch hunts; encounters with new worlds; and the Reformation and Counter Reformation.
Course Requirements
You are required to attend all classes (see the general catalogue of the university p. 58) and strongly encouraged to participate in discussions. Questions and comments are always welcome.
You will take one midterm exam ( Nov 9th during class ) and a final exam . You will be responsible for material covered in both the lectures and the readings. You are required not to miss exams, in case of illness a valid medical excuse has to be submitted within one week of absence. There will be two short quizzes , not announced beforehand, where you will be asked to identify some of the major events, people, or concepts in a few sentences. You may find some of these terms at the end of each chapter of the
Civilization in the West among your readings.
You will also write an essay in class ( Dec 26 ). The topic will not be announced beforehand but you will be allowed to use your notes and readings during this assignment.
Grading will be as follows:
Essay, pop quizzes, and participation: 30%
Mid-term exam:
Final exam:
35%
35%
Readings are electronically available at: http://libunix.ku.edu.tr
Search Reserves by
Course under Hist 212. If you have any questions regarding this, see İlkay Gürbüz at
Suna Kıraç Library.
You could also purchase a reader from the photocopy center at the library.
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History 212
Society and Culture in the Early Modern Europe

CLASS SCHEDULE
TuTh 12.30-13.45 at CAS B40
Week 1 (Sep 19-21): Introduction
Week 2 (Sep 26-28): Renaissance
Peter Burke, The Renaissance, (Basingstoke: r1987): 1-27.
Movie of the week : the Documentary “Leonardo” (selected scenes)
Week 3 (Oct 3-5): Italian City States
Deborah Howard, “Venice, the Bazaar of Europe” in Bellini and the East, edited by
Caroline Campbell and Alan Chong, (London and Boston: 2006): 12-35.
[The catalogue entries, i.e. information on the paintings, are optional.]
Week 4 (Oct 10-12): New Worlds
Mark Kishlansky, Patrick Geary, Patricia O’Brien, “European Empires” in
Civilization in the West, third edition, (New York: 1997): 372-85 and 405-407.
Movies of the week : “Aguirre , the Wrath of God” and “1492, The Conquest of
Paradise” (selected scenes).
Week 5 (Oct 17-19): Reformations
Mark Kishlansky, Patrick Geary, Patricia O’Brien, “The Reform of Religion” in
Civilization in the West, third edition, (New York: 1997): 408-42.
Movie of the week : “Luther” and “Queen Margot” (selected scenes)
Week 6 (Oct 26): Religion and Society
Robert W. Scribner, “Elements of Popular Belief”, in Handbook of European History
1400-1600, edited by Thomas A. Brandy Jr., Heiko A. Oberman and James D. Tracy, (Michigan: 1994): 231-63.
Week 7 (Oct 31- Nov 2): Popular Culture and Social Control
Carlo Ginzburg, The Cheese and the Worms, (Baltimore:1992): xiii-xxvi and 1-21.
Week 8 (Nov 7-9): Witches and Witch-Hunt
Brian P. Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe, 1-3 and 134-74
(Harlow: v2006).
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History 212
Society and Culture in the Early Modern Europe

MIDTERM Tuesday November 9 th during class.
Week 9 (Nov 14-16): Family and Gender History
Natalie Zemon-Davies, The Return of Martin Guerre, (Cambridge, MA and London:
1983): 1-6, 19-51. [if you want to know about the fate of the fake
Martin Guerre 51-61 and 82-93 recommended]
Movie of the week : “The Return of Martin Guerre”
Week 10 (Nov 21-23): Science, Wonders, and the Nature
Lorraine Daston and Katherine Park, Wonders and the Order of Nature, (New York:
2001): 173-214.
Week 11 (Nov 28-30): Monarchs, Courts, and Courtiers
Mark Kishlansky, Patrick Geary, Patricia O’Brien, “The Royal State in the
Seventeenth Century” in Civilization in the West, third edition,
(New York: 1997): 516-23 and 544-51.
Movie of the week: “Elizabeth”
Week 12 (Dec 5-7): Colonies, Enterprises, and Wealth
Mark Kishlansky, Patrick Geary, Patricia O’Brien, “Empires of Goods” in
Civilization in the West, third edition, (New York: 1997): 566-580.
Week 13 (Dec 12-14): Europe and the Ottomans, 1300-1500
Cemal Kafadar,
“The Ottomans and Europe,” in Handbook of European History,
1400-1600, eds. T.A. Brady, et at., (Leiden: 1994/5), vol 1, 589-98 and 607-11 .
Movie of the Week: “Dracula” (selected parts)
Week 14 (Dec 19-21): Europe and the Ottomans, 1500-1600
Gülru Necioğlu, “Süleyman the Magnificent and the Representation of Power in the
Context of Ottoman-Habsburg-Papal Rivalry,” in Süleyman the
Second and his Time, edited by Halil İnalcık and Cemal Kafadar
(İstanbul: 1993): 163-195.
Movie of the Week: “Adventures of Baron Münchausen” (selected parts)
Week 15 (Dec 26-28): Review and Discussion
ESSAY Tuesday December 26 th to be written during class.
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History 212
Society and Culture in the Early Modern Europe