Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The module aims:

To examine the political and cultural history of the Habsburg empire in central Europe and its relations with other powers, both in the region and beyond, from the 1680s.
To consider the relationship between nation, state and 'people' in the context of unstable constitutional arrangements and political and cultural tensions, using primary sources.
To introduce a range of perspectives and interpretations, and to help students develop their own understanding of the historical and historiographical problems of Austrian history.
To provide an opportunity of investigating in some depth selected problems, including the appraisal of selected source material and the critical examination of current historiography.

Outline Of Syllabus

Dynasty and territory
The siege of Vienna and reconquest of Hungary
Absolutism, Revolution and War
Metternich and the Congress of Vienna
Biedermeier and bourgeois culture
1848 revolutions
Nationalism and liberalism
Industry and urbanisation
Fin-de-siècle culture
Diplomacy and war in 1914
Defeat, revolution and the legacy of the empire

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

The intention of the module is to enable students to acquire a knowledge of the history of the Habsburg empire, its institutions and politics and its culture and society. A particular focus will be the political and cultural expression of the tensions generated by the long term decline of the empire in international terms at a time of rapid economic modernisation and the growth of new kinds of identity based on nationality, ethnicity and class.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Development of associated skills in research, critical reading and reasoning, sustained discussion and appropriate presentation of the results.

Students will be encouraged to develop a range of transferable skills which can be applied to other periods of history and other spheres of intellectual activity, including aural comprehension and note-taking, the ability to follow an argument and prioritise and select material, to read and to reason critically and to participate in discussion. Students should also be able to evaluate different kinds of sources, both primary and secondary (also including visual material).

In addition the module is intended to help students understand the relationship between institutions, political culture and historical change in a way that is applicable to other historical contexts.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture materials impart core knowledge and an outline of knowledge that students are expected to acquire; they stimulate development of listening and note-taking skills.

Seminars encourage independent study and promote improvements in oral communication, problem-solving skills and adaptability. They allow students to develop and test their own ideas within the framework of understanding offered by the lectures.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Essays test acquisition of a clear general knowledge of the subject plus the ability to think and analyse a problem in detail, problem-solving skills, the ability to work unaided and to use references and write clearly and concisely. Also, the ability to compare and contrast related primary and secondary sources on a common subject is key.

The form of the resit is no different from the above, i.e. no marks are carried over from the sit to the resit. Students are not allowed to submit for the resit any work that they have previously submitted.

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. This will take the form of an alternative assessment, as outlined in the formats below:

Modules assessed by Coursework and Exam:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be one essay in addition to the other coursework assessment (the length of the essay should be adjusted in order to comply with the assessment tariff); to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Exam only:
The normal alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be two 2,000 word written exercises; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Modules assessed by Coursework only:
All semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be expected to complete the standard assessment for the module; to be submitted no later than 12pm Friday of week 12. The essays should be set so as to assure coverage of the course content to date.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending the whole academic year or semester 2 are required to complete the standard assessment as set out in the MOF under all circumstances.

General Notes

N/A