Your Thesis?

Document D: How do we make meaning of it?

Document B: How do we make meaning out of it?

Document A---how do we make meaning of it?

FRQ Choices

Here we go. See you next week. MZ
Pick one.

1. Analyze the contextual factors that set the stage for the French Wars of Religion.


2. Compare the leadership styles of Phillip II and Elizabeth I.

Aquinas & Luther on War & Peace

So What? This is a question that often comes with learning? It connotes a sort of, what does this "stuff" mean in today's world. Investigating the Reformation as an historical topic is much more than an exercise in trying to understand what each church stands for in Camp Hill. Rather, the "meanings" and "interpretations" over reformation studies can help us understand our own circumstances. Be reminded that history is not science as Karl Marx argued (anytime someone says "history repeats itself" we should take caution), but indeed history can inform how we think about ethics, culture, identity,...

And this is how I would like to situate this assignment. This is an example of a scholarly work that examines the implications of Luther and Aquinas on the question war. I took out the Aquinas section of the article to save time. I would like you to read this piece and address the following two prompts on the blog. This will be due on Friday (9/24). You will get a hard copy of the essay tomorrow in class. This is a dense read. Take your time and read without the noise in the backdrop. Look the words up you don't understand.

20 points: 10 per response
each response should reveal: thinking, analyis, effective language, a relevant quote...


1. What context is revealed and established by the author in order to make his argument? Why do you think one might write about this in 2003 by the way? Or why might an editor want to publish it in 2003 if it was actually written earlier?


2. How / why is Luther brought into this discussion? In other words, so what about Luther? What do the words of Luther mean today in the context of this argument?

Chapter 3 (Military Moderinzation)

As the title suggests, this chapter is going to explore the nature of how the European military (not to suggest there is just one) evolved since the French Revolution. My prompts explore the implications of what this means in the context of the larger European story. Pick 1 to discuss on the blog. And please make sure you read your peers remarks so you don't say the same things. Look forward to reading your responses by August 7th. Hope band camp and all of the other athletic programs that start in the Fall go well for everyone! MZ

1. What was the relationship between economic developments and military developments?

2. How might you describe how various European demographics understood / perceived the nature of technological progress that related to the arming of European states?

3. How did "military theory" change over the course of the 19th-20th Century? Why did it change?

4. How did military leadership change over the course of the 19th-20th Century? What were the implications of these changes?

5. How did military equipment / assets change over the course of the 19th-20th Century? What were the implications of these changes?

Quick Update

I have been reading your responses and will be responding shortly myself. Nice job. Can someone connect Jamie Karl to the blog in the meantime? Thanks, MZ

Chapter 2 Prompts-The Industrialization of Modern Europe

Europeanists

Sorry for the delay in getting your next set of prompts together. I had been preparing a workshop I am teaching while working on a paper for a class I am taking. I would not recommend this approach to summer to anyone. But having fun I am. Tonight I am taking my son (Harrison) to see Star Wars in concert tonight at the Giant Center. I think he will have a nice with it plus it will introduce him to a live symphony / chorus for the first time---something quite European.

Here are the questions for the chapter 2. Pick one to blog about. Please read all questions prior to reading though. Due July 24.

1. Discuss 1 political, 1 social, and 1 economic / financial impact of that industrialization had on Europe.

2. What did Trebilcock mean in explaining industrialization as "evolution" and as a "Great Spurt"?

3. Was the industrial revolution a revolution from above or below? Explain and think of the themes you considered in last chapter.


I am hearing the mature sounds of summer outside my windows now-the bugs are getting noiser-this means one thing-school is drawing closer

MZ

Well is capped!

Perhaps the bleeding has stopped in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a good day for the world if it holds. I'm excited so don't mind me blogging about it. mz

Spain 1 Netherlands 0 any reaction to the game?

Chapter 1-Revolution from Above&Below

For next Friday (which is the official half way point of summer break!) July 16th. And keep in mind speaking of revolution- July 14th is what important holiday?

Ok---here are the second set of prompts I would like you to think about for your responses. For purposes of making this a bit cleaner on the blog---everyone must do # 1 then just pick 1 other to write about on the blog. In the end you will have a total of 2 responses. And please no redundant ones. If Jamie posts first and he chose prompt # 3 stay away from # 3. Make sure you read and think about all the prompts though.

1. What does Roberts mean "revolution from above and below"? What does this say about the nature of unpacking the meaning revolution?




2. Explain 2 important short term outcomes as a result of the French Revolution (the first act). Next, consider 2 long term outcomes.



3. Explain 2 trends (patterns) that emerged within the conservative success (1815-1848)? Does this come about about from above or below?


4. What does Roberts argue about the year 1848? Was this the result of above or below sources?


5. Comment on one of the images within this chapter. What does the image do to help explain the story of revolution?


6. What were the revolutionary wars (pg 26) Roberts discussed? Would you argue above or below revolutionary forces?


7. What were the reasons for the marked period of peace from 1871-1914? Again--are these forces from above or below?

8. Finally, what forces made the roof blow in 1914 (WWI commences---one of the most complex topics of the 20th Century)? And yes are these above or below?

Enjoy, MZ

Let me know if you need any help getting set up to blog

Also-if you want to use a bogus name please feel free-just let me know what it is. Thanks, MZ

Reading Prompts for Blanning Text

Hi everyone. July is almost upon us--Happy 4th. I am hoping all of you have your textbooks by now.

The text is a collection of 11 essays (each a chapter). I would like for us to contemplate Chapters 1-6 in the remaining weeks of the summer. The essays are thematically organized into big areas that modern scholars are constantly working on: revolution, impact of tech / industry, implication modern militaries, class definitions and shifting class identities, Sources of cultural change, and the development of European politics.

We will technically start the year out (first marking period) in the Renaissance period yet this book begins in the mid 18th Century...this is ok. Understanding history chronologically is important and we will approach it this way. But understanding overarching themes and developments arguably are the bread and butter of a rich history course. For example, when we talk about the development of the nation state in the 16th century and you have the background in the area of "revolution" b/c you read chapter 1, you are truly in a better spot. Many developments that shake out in the construction of the nation-state (16th-17th) are reconstructed or reconfigured due to the impacts of the FR. No doubt I will ask you to draw on these connections. In short we will be exploring big ideas and themes throughout the year and the essays that Blanning supplies us with open up windows into those themes.

For the first reading please read the introduction by TCW Blanning. Respond to these prompts on the blog. What's accomplished with this introduction? By front loading this collection of essays with his introduction what's he setting us up for.

Blog responses should be conversational and organic. Please work off of each others' responses by expanding a point, providing an example...I too will participate. Let's have something up on the blog by next Friday July 9th. Look for my post too. Thanks, Happy 4th. MZ

Testing

Testing

Let me know you got this

by posting something on the blog. Maybe you can tell me if you ever been to Europe or plan to. What were your impressions of it?

Hi everyone

Neo-Europeanists:

I am in the process of gearing up for next year. For our summer reading, I would like you to purchase just one book. The Oxford Illustrated of Modern Europe (T.C.W. Blanning is the editor). You can get them used at amazon for about 11.00 dollars. Let's have these in hand by the by the end of the month. We will read the book in the month of July and do some blogging about the book in August. Feel free to create a pseudonym but let me know who you are. I will be pushing up media, essays... on the blog from time to time for you to read that I find fit the course.

Have a great summer. Relax. I want recharged batteries when I see you again. Right now we are 1st period and right now a small group too. I think the book is terrific and I will be honest...I personally learn well from text and images so I thought the pictures and images would not hurt. The story of Europe is really an engaging one. I never get tired of it and I look forward to working with all of you as we explore the many ideas, thinkers, places...of Europe. MZ

How and Why did the Cold War End?

What role did US politcal leadership play in bringing the Cold War to an end?