Unit rationale, description and aim

Europe during the 'long' nineteenth century from the French Revolution of 1789 until the eve of World War One profoundly influenced the course of modern history, giving birth to, incubating, or accelerating many of the political, ideological, economic, social and cultural forces that we associate with the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In this unit, we will examine the causes, character and consequences of some of these developments, as well as important continuities. We will apply a variety of historical methods and approaches, and work with different types of primary and secondary sources, in order to investigate and research major topics. Where appropriate, the unit will focus on specific nation or theme-based case studies in order to 'drill down' into key issues and debates.

The aim of this unit is to develop students' capacity to examine historical processes of change and continuity in Europe, in the long nineteenth century, and the global consequences of European developments.

2026 10

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Prerequisites

10 cp from 100-level units in History or Politics and International Relations

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Discuss theoretical and factual knowledge of Europ...

Learning Outcome 01

Discuss theoretical and factual knowledge of Europe in the ‘long’ nineteenth century and an awareness of historical debates surrounding it
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Communicate clearly in written and/or oral form, i...

Learning Outcome 02

Communicate clearly in written and/or oral form, in a style appropriate to a specified audience
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Locate, use and appropriately reference a variety ...

Learning Outcome 03

Locate, use and appropriately reference a variety of primary and secondary materials relevant to European history, 1789-1910 to develop an evidence-based historical narrative or argument
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC3, GC4, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Apply critical reading skills to your understandin...

Learning Outcome 04

Apply critical reading skills to your understanding of Europe in the period from 1789-1910 and the methods hat historians have used to research it
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Interpret and reflect on key historical debates re...

Learning Outcome 05

Interpret and reflect on key historical debates relating to case studies in European history in the period 1789-1910
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, GC7

Content

Nation-based, thematic or comparative case studies will be selected to examine issues relating to revolution in Europe including: 

  • The ‘long’ nineteenth century in historical perspective  
  • War and Revolution in France
  • Napoleon
  • Industrial revolution
  • Bourgeois Politics and Culture Socialism
  • Socialism and 1848
  • Religion and science
  • Gender and feminism
  • Nationalism
  • European imperialism 
  • Europe at the end of the ‘long’ nineteenth century
  • Changing mindsets? Progressive change versus revolution before 1917.

The unit will also develop active history theory and techniques including: 

  • Advanced techniques in locating and using primary and secondary sources  
  • Advanced skills in essay writing
  • Historical approaches used in the research and analysis of nineteenth-century Europe 

Assessment strategy and rationale

This unit emphasises specific, analytical, and summative skills for students as well as a sound knowledge of the history of revolutionary Europe.

The comprehension task will identify early on any students who may be at risk in their writing or comprehension abilities. It will assess Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 4. This may take the form of regular short written engagements with lecture and reading materials. This task has a proven record of making tutorials worthwhile for all.

The analytical task is designed to improve students’ capacity to work with and interpret evidence found in primary and secondary sources. This may take the form of written or oral tasks that require students to use digital search techniques to locate and critique a set of primary and secondary sources and also to become more aware of the uses and limits of AI in historical analysis. The task assesses Learning Outcomes 1 through to 5.

Students will build on their specific and analytic knowledge foundations to summarise learnings in an final examination. The summative task assesses Learning Outcomes 1, 4, and 5. 

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task1: Comprehension  This task will ...

Assessment Task1: Comprehension 

This task will ensure students are learning at a weekly pace and it will also help to identify any writing or analytical problems early on. It will involve students responding to queries asked in the recorded lectures. The highest 6 marks out of a possible 10 submitted responses will count towards the final grade.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Assessment Task 2: Analytical The key purpose of...

Assessment Task 2: Analytical

The key purpose of this task is for students to develop skills in locating and using primary and secondary sources, and also to identify the uses and limits of AI in historical writing. It will also develop skills in orally presenting research findings.  

Weighting

35%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Assessment Task 3: Examination The key purpose o...

Assessment Task 3: Examination

The key purpose of this task is for students to demonstrate knowledge and analysis of the history of Revolutionary Europe. It will allow students to show their summative historical skills, and an awareness of ethical and/or historical debates on a topic relating to the unit content.  

Weighting

35%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO4, LO5
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10, GC11, GC12

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies include a range of approaches to support your learning such as lectures, tutorials, reading, reflection, discussion, film screenings, skills workshops, and assignments etc. 

This unit embraces active learning by taking the form of a face-to-face class containing activities through which students will:  

1) gain a deep understanding of the content covered in the unit.  

The active learning activities in this unit include reading, writing, discussion and problem-solving aimed at promoting analysis and synthesis of class content, paying particular attention to the dynamics of historical debate about relevant topics. Students may also use case studies to assist them in this process.  

2) develop and hone skills fundamental to the discipline of history, including the development of methods for working with and interpreting primary sources; the ability to identify relevant and high-quality secondary sources and incorporate them into their own research and analysis; the ability to process extensive amounts of historical information and identify what is most relevant and valuable; and to communicate their findings in a style appropriate to their audience

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Berend, I. T. An Economic History of Nineteenth-Century Europe: Diversity and Industrialization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2013. 

Berger, S. (ed.). A Companion to Nineteenth Century Europe, 1789-1914, Malden MA: Blackwell, 2006.  

Blanning, T. C. W. (ed.). The Nineteenth Century: Europe 1789-1914. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2000. 

Eric Hobsbawm’s initial trilogy, The Age of Revolution, The Age of Capital and The Age of Empire , Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1987.

Evans, R. J. The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914. London: Allen Lane. 2016. 

Fuchs, R., and Thompson, V. Women in Nineteenth-Century Europe. Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2005 

Gildea, R. Barricades and Borders: Europe 1800-1914, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.  

Jerrold Seigel, Modernity and Bourgeois Life: Society, Politics, and Culture in England, France, and Germany since 1750 Cambridge University Press, 2012.

Melancon, M. S., and Swanson, J .C. (eds.). Nineteenth Century Europe: Sources and Perspectives from History. London: Longman, 2006. 

Merriman, J. A History of Modern Europe: From the French Revolution to the Present (vol. 2), 3rd edition, New York: W. W. Norton, 2010.

Norman Davies, Europe: A History Penguin, 2014 edn.  

R. Winks & J. Neuberger, eds, Europe and the Making of Modernity 1815-1914 (2005)

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