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