Schedule

HIST 238 Class Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Class meets every week on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:15 in Ryland 210.

Most class readings draw on required texts listed below. These books are available in the campus bookstore.

  1. William Beik, A Social and Cultural History of Early Modern France. (Cambridge, 2009). ISBN 978-0521709569
  2. The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu. (Wisconsin U. Press, 1964). ISBN 978-0299024246
  3. Louis XIV and Absolutism: A Brief Study with Documents. (Bedford/St. Martins, 2000). ISBN 978-0312133092
  4. Françoise de Graffigny, Letters from a Peruvian Woman (MLA, 1993). ISBN 978-0873527781
  5. Voltaire, Philosophical Dictionary. (Penguin, 1984). ISBN 978-0140442571
  6. Denis Diderot, The Indiscreet Jewels. Translated by Sophie Hawkes. (Marsilio, 1993). ISBN: 978-094141983
  7. Robert Darnton, Censors at Work: How States Shaped Literature (Norton, 2014). ISBN 978-0393242294

PDF files of articles and single chapters for class reading, noted as “On BB,” can be found on the course BlackBoard site at blackboard.richmond.edu. Please check blackboard for copies of handouts.

 

 

Part I: Absolutism in Theory and Practice (weeks 1-7)
Class Meeting Topical Focus Class reading Questions to consider What to prepare
Aug 24 Introductions. Defining absolutism. Charting the course Read William Beik, “Introduction” in Louis XIV and Absolutism, pp. 1-16, esp. pp. 1-4, AND “Bossuet’s Vision in Politics Drawn from the Very Words of Holy Scripture” pp. 168-70. How does the concept of “absolutism” serve the purposes of historical interpretation? What limitations does this concept impose upon our understanding? Look up “L’état, c’est moi”. Complete the survey.
Aug 26 Geography and Language. The regional identities of France Read Beik, “Introduction” in Society and Culture in Early Modern France (herein EMF), pp. 1-14. Read maps on BlackBoard site and page xviii. What made France culturally distinct from the rest of Europe? How did the size of France, both in area and population, help shape its political identity? Read over the schedule of presentations for the first half of the semester. Submit your two preferred dates to me at the beginning of class.
Aug 31 Lord & Peasant:understanding the tyranny and obligations of an agrarian society and legal privilege. Read Beik, “ EMF, chapters 1&2, pp. 15-56. What economic and cultural elements defined the power relations between peasants and their lords? Were the vast majority of French people living in poverty? What bound the community together? Bring to class two examples of different primary sources used in these chapters to address one of the questions to the left. Be prepared to explain what these sources prove or demonstrate. (see BB for ideas)C-LAC film, “Return of Martin Guerre”
Sept 2 The nobility as a social class and a privileged estate Read Beik, EMF Chs. 3 & 9, pp. 66-97, 273-287 AND   primary documents from “Reforming the Provinces: the Grand Jours d’Auvergne” in Beik, Louis XIV and Absolutism, pp. 108-120. To what extent was the nobility a unified social group? What made them the “backbone” of early modern France? Presentation I: Maria Durling-Rodriguez
Sept 7 Urban life in an age of commerce and trade Read Beik, EMF Chs. 4 & 10, pp. 98-134, 289-305 AND selections from Jacques Ménétra, Journal of my Life and sources on urban guilds (On BB). To what extent did “cities make men free” in the early modern period? What opportunities and limitations did the guild system offer skilled artisans? Presentation II: Maddie PhilipsC-LAC film, “Cyrano de Bergerac” (1991)
Sept 9 Richelieu and the royal power brokers Read Beik, EMF Ch. 6, pp. 164-180 and The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu, Part I, pp. 3-33. What challenges did the monarchy face in the reign of Louis XIII? What role does the Gallican Church play in shaping French state? What influence did Church officers, like Cardinal Richelieu, have in building a modern state? Presentation III: Leo DiazHand Out Essay 1 Due Tues, Sept 22nd
Sept 14 Aristocrats, Ministers and the factions at court Read Beik, EMF Ch. 5, pp. 134-161 and The Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu, Part I, pp. 34-63, and Part II, pp. 67-93, 118-124. How did Richelieu’s reforming vision of statecraft differ from earlier ones? What characterizes his notion of the “reason of state”? Presentation IV: Megan Alexander C-LAC film, “Le Roi Danse” (2003)
Sept 16 The Administrative State: Versailles & Paris Read Beik, EMF Ch. 11, pp. 313-341 AND primary documents from “The King and the Aristocrats at Court” (pp. 50-78) and “The King and His Image” (pp. 199-203) in Louis XIV and Absolutism Considering the civil unrest (the Fronde) in his youth, what made Louis XIV such a successful monarch during his reign? What explains the courtiers’ obsession with the King’s daily habits and their stylized behavior at Versailles? Presentation V: Deirdre O’Halloran
Sept 21 The Administrative State: Center & Periphery Read primary documents from “Managing France” and “Reforming the Provinces: Interactions with Burgundy” in Louis XIV and Absolutism, pp. 121-155. How did the King’s ministers and royal officials bring greater control over the provinces? Presentation VI: Elizabeth Rubino C-LAC Film, “Saint-Cyr” (2008)ESSAY 1 Due Tomorrow!!
Sept 23 Popular culture and the churches: Peasant rituals and popular rebellions Read Beik, EMF, Chs. 8 & 9 , pp. 224-273 AND primary documents from “Social Unrest: The Revolts of 1675,” in Louis XIV and Absolutism, pp. 156-165. How did the assertion of royal authority, a unified (Catholic) faith, and the bureaucratic arm of government affect the “menu peuple” of France? In what ways were peasants’ and townspeople’s lives changed by the growth of this early modern state? Presentation VII: Chelsea Taylor
Sept 28 Popular culture and the churches: Repression of Huguenots Read Beik, EMF, Ch. 6, pp. 175-203 AND primary documents from “Absolutism and the Churches: Dealing with the Huguenots,” in Louis XIV and Absolutism, pp. 183-197. How did religious minorities respond to the repression of their “unorthodox” religious beliefs? Why did the dictates of royal power preclude the protection of the Huguenots under the Edict of Nantes? Presentation VIII & IX: Emily Reilly and Ethan Phillips
Sept 30 Popular culture and the churches: Repression of Jansenists Read D. Kostroun, “A Formula for Disobedience: Jansenism, Gender and the Feminist Paradox” in Journal of Modern History, Vol 25, No 3 (September 2003): 483-522, AND primary sources from “Absolutism in the Churches: Dealing with the Jansenists,” in Louis XIV and Absolutism, pp. 178-182. What threat did Jansenism pose to the Catholic Church? To the authority of the King? In what ways were these Jansenist women able to resist royal and papal authority? Presentation X: Ellie Palazzolo
Oct 5 VISIT TO VMFA Write self-assessment of Essay 1. Submit self-evaluation of your class participation. Presentation XI: Emeline BlevinsC-LAC film, “Reine Margot” (1994)
Oct 7 New Elites and a learned, consumer society Read Beik, EMF Ch. 10, pp. 289-312 How did education change the systems of privilege that stratified so much of French society? In what ways did elite women experience educational opportunities? Presentation XII: Bailey Daigle
OCT 12 FALL BREAK NO C-LAC SECTION
Oct 14 New Elites, and a learned, consumer society Read Beik, EMF, Ch. 12, pp. 342-364 Where did France offer avenues of social advancement? How did an expanding the consumer society change attitudes toward the monarchy? Presentation XIII: Katie Fitzgerald  

 

 

 

Part II: The Enlightenment and Royal Authority. The Challenge of a Reading Public(weeks 8-14) 
Class Meeting Topical Focus Class reading Questions to consider What to prepare
Oct 19 The expansion of a reading public Read Françoise de Graffigny, Letters from a Peruvian Woman, Letters I-X, pp. 3-52 and Roy Porter “Print Culture” and Elizabeth Einstein “Print Culture and Enlightenment Thought” (on BB) Leaders, post your questions to the blog at least 24 hours before the class meeting Class discussion leaders: Elizabeth and LeoC-LAC Film: “Molière” (2007)
Oct 21 Salon culture and civilizing women. Graffigny, Letters XI-XXIII, pp. 52-103 AND Dena Goodman “Enlightenment Salons” (on BB) Leaders, post your questions to the blog at least 24 hours before the class meeting Class discussion leaders: Megan and Emeline
Oct 26 Self and the other. Inequalities and liberties. Graffigny, Letters XXIV- XLI, pp.103-171 AND Lieselotte Steinbrugge, “The Moral Sex” Leaders, post your questions to the blog at least 24 hours before the class meeting Class discussion leaders: Chelsea and MariaC-LAC Readings: Lettres d’une princesse péruvienne
Oct 28 Political humor and literary license Read selections from Voltaire, The Philosophical Dictionary, (TBA), “Men of Letters and “Philosophe” (on BB) AND Roger Chartier’s “The Man of Letters” (on BB)  Leaders, post your questions to the blog at least 24 hours before the class meeting Class discussion leaders: Maddie and Ellie
Nov 2 The use of reason and the science of man Read same selections from Voltaire, The Philosophical Dictionary, the Encyclopédie (on line) AND Steven Shapin, “The Social Uses of Science” (on BB)  Leaders, post your questions to the blog at least 24 hours before the class meeting Class discussion leaders: Emily and KatieC-LAC Film “Ridicule” (1997)Hand out Essay 2, Due Wed. Nov. 10th 
Nov 4 Knowledge for all: An Encyclopedia Read selections from Diderot and d’Alembert’s Encyclopedia (on line) AND Robert Darnton, “The High Enlightenment and the Life-Life of Literature” (on BB) Leaders, post your questions to the blog at least 24 hours before the class meeting Class discussion leaders: Bailey and Ethan
Nov 9 Censorship under Louis XV Robert Darnton, Censors at Work: How States Shaped Literature, pp. 13-54. What questions is Darnton pursuing in his research? Why choose censors as the object of study? C-LAC Film, “Beaumarchais l’Insolent” (1998)Essay 2 Due Tomorrow!
Nov 11 Censorship under Louis XV Darnton, Censors at Work, pp. 54-86. What do you learn about how states shaped literature from this reading? What are the political strategies of censors, book-sellers and their patrons?  
Nov 16 Pornography as political allegory Denis Diderot, The Indiscreet Jewels, Introduction and chapters 1-17, pp. 3-61. What does this novel reveal about the political problems associated Louis XV’s rule? C-LAC Readings: Diderot, “Les bijoux indiscrets”
Nov 18 Madame de Pampadour’s France Read Diderot, The Indiscreet Jewels, chapters 38, 50-54, pp. 160-170, 243-268, AND Thomas Kaiser, “Madame de Pompadour and the Theaters of Power” (on BB) Class Discussion Leader: Deirdre
Nov 23 Seeing an end to censorship and the birth of copyright Read Roger Chartier, “The Way of Print,” in The Cultural Origins of the French Revolution, pp. 38-66. What is Chartier’s main argument? How does his interpretation of the world of print help us see the absolutist state breaking apart?
Nov 25 THANKSGIVING BREAK  
Nov 30 Comparing Regimes: Absolutist France and Communist Germany Read Danton, Censors at Work, Part III, pp. 147-227 C-LAC Special Event Special Guest: Dr. Treadway
Dec 2 Course Review Prepare for Final Exam FINAL EXAM scheduled for Tuesday, Dec 8, 9 am to 12 pm.