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Last modified: 02 Apr 2026 12:16
The course provides a broad overview of changes which the Renaissance and Reformations introduced to European culture, politics, religion, society and people’s understanding of their role in the world. It traces these developments in a comparative way, from Europe’s Atlantic coast to East Central Europe and Russia. These changes include: a changing image of the world and its relationship to the spiritual during the Renaissance; a time of unrest triggered by European Reformations; European expansion; and the growth of monarchies and republics.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course provides a broad overview of the changes which the Renaissance and Reformations introduced to European culture, politics, religion, society and people’s understanding of their role in the world. It traces these developments in a comparative way, from Europe’s Atlantic coast to East Central Europe and Russia, throughout a changing image of the world and its relationship to the spiritual, brought on by Renaissance, a time of unrest triggered by the European Reformations, the radical and the magisterial reformations, European expansion, the growth of monarchies and republics, and the wars of religion of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It concludes with the onset of the early Enlightenment and an analysis of absolutist court culture. A chronological approach is combined with a thematic survey of major historical movements, concepts, ideas and developments, such as monarchy, nobility, secularisation, serfdom and feudalism, urbanisation, sexuality and everyday life, witchcraft and popular belief, court culture, mercantilism, and warfare.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
One-to-one essay return as soon as possible, with plenty of comments, advice in improvement and, if necessary, information about learning support courses at the university; office hours, class meetings, mixed tutor- and peer assessment by students and discussion thereof. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand and assess specific historiographical areas (social, cultural, intellectual, religious, political, and economic) of Renaissance and Reformation movements. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate familiarity with points of view of different intellectual, religious, political and social groups and movements involved in unrest and change which occurred from the 15th to 17th centuries |
| Factual | Understand | Outline & understand impact of Renaissance & Reformation movements on the history of Europe & beyond, in late Middle Ages to early 18thC through study of specific geographical chronological examples |
| Reflection | Analyse | Critically reflect on the process of research and writing for assessments and class preparation and participation. |
| Reflection | Analyse | Make comparative analyses of the interaction and relationship of political, social, religious and economic forces with each other and in the context of historiographical debates. |
| Reflection | Analyse | Reflect seriously on the nature and values of the early modern world, its legacy and impact on global history. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Timed online exam, adaptive release (2 hours with extra time for students with provisions), students chose their own start time across a 24 hour window. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate familiarity with points of view of different intellectual, religious, political and social groups and movements involved in unrest and change which occurred from the 15th to 17th centuries |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand and assess specific historiographical areas (social, cultural, intellectual, religious, political, and economic) of Renaissance and Reformation movements. |
| Factual | Understand | Outline & understand impact of Renaissance & Reformation movements on the history of Europe & beyond, in late Middle Ages to early 18thC through study of specific geographical chronological examples |
| Reflection | Analyse | Make comparative analyses of the interaction and relationship of political, social, religious and economic forces with each other and in the context of historiographical debates. |
| Reflection | Analyse | Reflect seriously on the nature and values of the early modern world, its legacy and impact on global history. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Outline & understand impact of Renaissance & Reformation movements on the history of Europe & beyond, in late Middle Ages to early 18thC through study of specific geographical chronological examples |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand and assess specific historiographical areas (social, cultural, intellectual, religious, political, and economic) of Renaissance and Reformation movements. |
| Reflection | Analyse | Make comparative analyses of the interaction and relationship of political, social, religious and economic forces with each other and in the context of historiographical debates. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate familiarity with points of view of different intellectual, religious, political and social groups and movements involved in unrest and change which occurred from the 15th to 17th centuries |
| Reflection | Analyse | Reflect seriously on the nature and values of the early modern world, its legacy and impact on global history. |
| Reflection | Analyse | Critically reflect on the process of research and writing for assessments and class preparation and participation. |
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