The nineteenth century can be considered the ‘European century’ because so many of the central developments of world history during that period occurred in Europe. Politically, economically and culturally Europe was the most dominant continent in that era. This course will examine initially the chaos and conflict of the aftermath of the French Revolution at the start of the century, and the subsequent development of national identity in Europe. It will then examine politics, industrialism, colonial expansion, and the central role of war in the conduct of European international relations. In conclusion the course will examine whether it could be argued that there was a ‘long nineteenth century’ which ended with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. What was the historical legacy of European dominance in the nineteenth century, and did it have mainly unfortunate consequences for World history during the course of the twentieth century?
From Revolution to War: Europe, 1789-1914
This is an In-person course which requires your attendance to the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 22 Apr 2025
Week 1: The French Revolution
Week 2: Napoleon- ' The World Soul on Horseback'
Week 3: Nationalism and Liberalism
Week 4: 1848 - Springtime of the Peoples
Week 5: The European Industrial Revolution
Week 6: Constitutional politics and elections
Week 7: Europe, empire and colonialism
Week 8: The new urban landscape of the nineteenth century city
Week 9: Progress and confrontation - into the twentieth century
Week 10: The world in 1914
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Availability of titles on the reading list (below) can be checked on SOLO, the library catalogue.
Preparatory reading
- The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648-1815 / Blanning, Tim
- The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914 / Evans, Richard, J.
Certification
To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £285.00 |
| Take this course for CATS points | £30.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Mr Carl Wade
Carl Wade originally studied history at Jesus College, Cambridge. He has written and taught courses for OUDCE since 2004 in modern European and German history.
Course aims
To examine the reasons for European economic, political, and cultural dominance during the course of the 19th Century.
Course objectives:
1. To establish the historical consequences of 19th Century European dominance for world history in the 20th Century.
2. To examine the themes of nationalism, war, politics, and international relations in 19th Century Europe.
3. To encourage the extensive use of a variety of original visual and documentary materials to illuminate the developments and debates of the period, and to encourage students to engage with those arguments and debates.
Teaching methods
Teaching will involve verbal presentations and introductions to the topics using Power Point, but particular emphasis will be put on student input and interaction verbally. Contemporary written and visual sources will be used as a regular focus for discussion. At the end of each week students will be handed some limited tutor-prepared written material to introduce them to the topic and themes of the following week, and provide guidance for further relevant reading in their own time. They will be encouraged to use the department’s library resources to find relevant materials themselves, so that self-study can be pursued to the maximum possible degree.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
1. Have a good general understanding of the main developments and themes of 19th Century European history which will enable them to pursue further, more specialist, historical study of modern European history.
2. Demonstrate an ability to assess and evaluate a wide variety of arguments and sources with reference to the period, and be able to express their views interacting with other students.
3. Become familiar with the structures of academic learning and be confident presenting their argument in written form.
Assessment methods
Students will be offered the possibility of writing an assignment related to the topics considered during the term. This assignment will consist of one essay of approximately 1500 words. The assignment needs to be completed to a satisfactory standard in order for credit to be awarded for the course.
Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.
Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form
Application
To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)
Level and demands
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)
To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.