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
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On the surface, Blanning is simply introuducing each eleven of his essays with their overall relationship with the many different aspects of European history. But deeper into his introduction, Blanning sets us up with the main themes that have dominated the European continent and essentially shaped the countries and cultures of the area. The most obvious theme, which perhaps is most evident in all parts of the world, is social change. Blanning briefly talks about the shifts from clergy to democratic institutions. Closely related to social change is the economic distress faced by Europe during the "Great Depression" and how this widened the gap between rich and poor. Europe's economic situation was also greatly affected by the "Civil War," better known to us as World War I and World War II. Blanning comes to a conclusion that WWI and the unjust Treaty of Versaille only lead Germany to push harder for their dominance on the continent. It was not until the end of WWII and the Marshall Plan that Europe was able to stabalize itself in many ways. Although history is continually evolving, Blanning makes a point that for every one thing that changes, one thing will stay the same. It is inevitable that certain attitudes, for example, will stay entrenched in the European mindset forever, despite the capriciousness of modern Europe.
In the introduction,Blanning describes the "always changing" Europe. He gives an introduction of each of the essays and what they will be presenting to us. He talks alot about social change and how each superpower of europe tried, in some way, to make their own ideas, the ideas of the area as a whole. Examples of this are the british during their industrial revolution, the french during their revolution, the germans during the first and second world wars, and the russians during the cold war. Each of them wanted to make europe their own but never fully succeeded. He finally suggests that now that there is a good medium, will europe stay as it is, or will the process start over again?
Nice job Jamie and Aminah. Both of you did a wonderful job summarizing the intro well. Let me comment on a few things that I always find interesting. First off---the temptation to treat history like a science. History is not predictable. This is one of the major points that debunks Marxist ways of thinking about history (although Marx's analysis and response to the industrial transformation is truly brilliant). Science is arrived at using mostly a different method (one you should be familiar with by now). In the end we should not look to history to make predictions about what's going to happen next. Think of Aminah's use of the term 'evolve' in her response. This is appropriate in that there is indeed a unpredictability about the "next factor". All that said...looking back at the big themes pointed out in both answers here, the historian looks for cause and effect relationships. What caused something to happen is a question that will never lose energy. We can assemble arguments for cause in a historical sense by screening the evidence. What caused the Great Depression? No one could have predicted this in 1928. But in 2010 we have the advantage of being able to capture much of the past using various types of evidence that undergird historical interpretations. As such, history can inform the discourse on the swings of capitalism in the 21 Century but it can not determine any direction or concrete answer. Blanning is good to note in his introduction all of these themes. We are all products (influenced one way or another) of European history-most historians would argue this is not deterministic
I will post next chapter questions in a few minutes. Snack time for the kids. MZ
I agree with all of these responses. Blanning touches on many themes throughout the introduction by asking a question: How did Europe so powerful? It is then, in answer to this loaded question, that he asks more questions about the themes previously mentioned by Jamie and Aminah. Themes such as secularization, division of labor, social change, religion, urbanization, and commercialization among many others. He goes on to write that although history is the changes in a society, a government, or in this case a continent, history is also when nothing changes. According to Blanning, history is a cycle of times of revolution and conservatism. Although we cannot predict the future by learning history, we may make decisions based on our knowledge of it. For example, after WWI the "winners" of the war excluded Germany from the treaty. As a result, Germanys situation did not improve, in fact it deteriorated further. The leaders of nations world wide learned from this so that by the end of WWII, the treaty not only interested the winners, but all nations and parties involved. Blanning concludes by writing that the future is unpredictable, but through understanding history we may better have an understanding of the world around us.
The combined thoughts of Aminah, Jamie, and Victoria have covered all of the themes and points which I had written in my post earlier when I had no access to internet. In an effort not to be repetitive, I want to expand upon one small point that develops itself both in Blanning’s introduction as well as my peers’ responses: change. As Blanning stated and Aminah noted, for every one thing that changes, one thing will stay the same. Yet Blanning regards Europe as “always changing” numerous times. While this is his opinion, and clearly a true statement as modernization constantly changes the culture, it demonstrates that what people focus their attention on is change. If Blanning’s idea of one thing staying the same for everything that changes, then as much as Europe is “always changing” it is also “always staying the same.” Connecting to the first lines of Blanning’s section is his quotation of Lessing, “he often achieves very accurate insights into the future, but he cannot wait for the future to come. He wants to see the future accelerated, and also wants to do the accelerating himself. For what is there in it for him, if what he sees to be desirable is not brought about in his lifetime.” Here, Lessing offers insight into the human nature responsible for this constant emphasis and center of society: change.
Blanning uses a technique to emphasize the enormity of history: he introduces dozens of key topics primarily before explaining or divulging information about any of these. Revolution is emphasized; in fact, any of these topics can be seen through Blanning's "revolution" lens. The French Revolution, both World Wars, and the instability of the Soviet Union all are examples of changes in government, the social structure, and economic upheavel. Nationalism and revolution are seen as double edged swords though: although they may significantly change society according to the peoples wishes, at what cost of bloodshed do they cease being revolutionary and start being common massacre? This question is presented in regard to reprecussions felt on every continent(except Antarctica).
Early in his introduction, Blanning states “the world is changing, it can be changed, and so it should be changed.” This concept of the unpredictable and ever changing nature of the world is a major theme in Europe, one in which Blanning places a special emphasis. He explores how and why Europe evolved at a faster or more prominent rate, bringing up issues of geography, secularism, industrialization, and changing social norms--all topics that will surely be discussed in the essays to come. However, he expresses the importance not only of change, but of continuity and stability. Change can be completely taking out an old order and replacing it with a new, or it can be using the ‘old’ as a foundation, and evolving from that. Blanning widens his perspective on change to include social, economic, and political, and the interaction between the three. He believes these institutions are very much connected, illustrated by events such as the First and Second World Wars and the outbreak of the Great Depression. This introduction sets the audience up to appreciate the old and the new, the cause and effect, and the change that took place in between
In Blanning's introduction he emphasizes the themes that have and will continue to play a role in Europe. As most of us have pointed out, the overall ideas include social and economic change. Blanning also describes events in history including World War I and II and detailing actions made by countries, like Germany, during this time. With each superpower fighting for what they want, you never know what the outcome will be. This results in an unpredicted future that is always changing. As we learned in 20th century, we study history because history sometimes repeats itself. However, if we study history, we may be able to eliminate and predict the cycle that causes wars and chaos in the "always changing" Europe.
In his introduction, Blanning poses several questions about the course of European history and how it changed. He seems to say that there is no true way to define what is "modern Europe, since times are always changing and becoming even more current. He writes that the "history of modern Europe presents both change and continuity, revolutions and stability." In other words, it cannot be generalized by one thing, rather it is plagued by several different things. As the others have stated, Blanning most definitely focuses on the "always changing" Europe. He tells of economic changes, social changes, modernization, and much more. Overall, he introduces some major themes that were carried throughout European history and ultimately decides that change is unavoidable.
In the midst of many references to historical happenings along the way in the introduction of the essays, is the general idea that one of the few things that can be relied on in history is that things will change, ironically. From what actually happens to how it is represented by the writer, through all modes of government and social order, it all will give way to something new at some point or other, and in doing so, possibly and probably will affect some other thing or person that may be stable at the time. Invention will beget industrial expansion, oppressive laws will produce a revolution, and a simple apple can cause a major shift in the world's view of how things work, all happening at the same time, affecting each other in a myriad of ways. In the theme of all this, Blanning foreshadows to the subject of the coming essays, European history and change, in a fashion that provides an underlying connection to be used by the reader in absorbing the text.
In the introduction Blanning tells the reader about the always turbulent times of Europe. Starting the whole way back to the Industrial Revolution into World War II. He wants to make the reader realize that Europe is a roller coaster, and understanding this roller coaster is only acquired by understanding the cause-effect, domino effect that Europe is put through. The reader though must also understand the sheer power Europe possess. So many powerful people in one area makes it ripe for revolution, reformation, uprisings and changes in ideas. Blanning wants us to understand that yes Europe is a continent of constant change and action but it also is the home of some of the most powerful nation-states in the world.
Blanning starts off with some brief insight into what each of the eleven essays contained within the text discuss. However, there is more than just a simple introduction to the text; Blanning introduces various ideas for one to ponder over when looking at a general survey of European history. Out of all of the ideas Blanning brings to the table with this introduction, the one thing that raelly caught my eye was how he makes a point about patterns that occur within history. He proposes the theory that history, specifically European history, generally has happened like this: a period of liberal change, or revolution, followed by a period highly influenced by conservative thought. Blanning is quick to explain that this is not a definite reoccurring phenomenon in history, rather something to be noted. Conclusively, Blanning suggests that one can learn from the patterns demonstrated by European history to help us better realize what is occuring in the world today. I believe that the small scope of European history provided within the text will be a great place to start off as we delve into the past of Europe.
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