History 309: Early Modern Seminar
Topic: The Early Reformation

 Course Goals and Assignments

This course will examine the beginning stages of the Protestant Reformation, through the lens of the life of the Catholic humanist scholar and religious reformer Desiderius Erasmus, and through a series of readings introducing us to the fluid intellectual context of the early sixteenth century. The course will be in two parts. The first is a series of readings, class discussions, and written assignments, consisting of two 4-page papers and an in-class essay. The second part is a research paper of about 15 to 20 pages, due on the final exam date of May 20. For this paper, you will be asked to do a topic statement, an in-class presentation, and a first draft.

Grades will be calculated as follows:

• Short papers and in-class essay: 10% each
• Topic statement, draft, and presentation: 10% each
• Final paper: 20%
• Class attendance and participation: 20%

 Books to Purchase

Augustijn, Cornelius Erasmus: His Life, Works, and Influence
Brady, Oberman, and Tracy, eds., Handbook of European History, 1400--1600, vol. II
Brady, Thomas A. Politics of the Reformation in Germany
John Calvin & Jacopo Sadoleto A Reformation Debate Erasmus Ten Colloquies
Erasmus The Praise of Folly
James D. Tracy Europe's Reformations 1450-1650

 Calendar of Assignments

Tu 8 Feb

Introduction

Thu 12 Feb

Augustijn Erasmus: His Life, Works, and Influence Chapters 1-6

Tue 17 Feb

Erasmus Ten Colloquies I-V

Thu 19 Feb

Erasmus Ten Colloquies VI-X; Augustijn Chapters 7-9, Annotations on Romans 4 (xerox)

Tue 24 Feb

Tracy Europe's Reformations, Chapters 1-4

Thu 26 Feb

Europe's Reformations, Chapters 5-8; Gerald Strauss, "Ideas of Reformatio and Renovatio from the Middle Ages" in Brady, et al., Handbook of European History

Tue 2 Mar

Europe's Reformations Chapters 12-14; Constantin Fasolt, "Visions of Order in the Canonists and Civilians," in Handbook of European History

Thu 4 Mar

FIRST PAPER DUE

Tue 9 Mar

Erika Rummel, "Voices of Reform from Hus to Erasmus" and Ronald G. Witt, "The Humanist Movement," in Handbook of European History

Thu 11 Mar

Erasmus Praise of Folly 9-98

Tue 16 Mar

Erasmus Praise of Folly 98-174

Thu 18 Mar

Augustijn, Chapters 10-15

Tue 23 Mar -- Thu 25 Mar SPRING BREAK

Tue 30 Mar

SECOND PAPER DUE

Thu 1 Apr

Martin Brecht "Luther's Reformation" in Handbook of European History (pp. 129--153)
Peter Blickle, "The Popular Reformation" in Handbook of European History (pp. 161--192)

Tue 6 Apr

Robert Kingdon, "International Calvinism" and James Stayer "The Radical Reformation" in Handbook of European History (pp. 229--282)

Thu 8 Apr

Calvin/Sadoleto "Sadoleto's Letter to the Genevans"
TOPIC STATEMENT DUE

Tue 13 Apr

Berndt Hamm, "The Urban Reformation in the Holy Roman Empire," in Handbook of European History (pp. 193--228)
Calvin/Sadoleto "Calvin's Reply to Sadoleto"

Thu 15 Apr

Thomas Brady Politics of the Reformation in Germany Introduction, Chapters 1-4

Tue 20 Apr

Brady, Chapters 5-9

Thu 22 Apr

IN-CLASS ESSAY

Tue 27 Apr

In-Class presentations

Thu 29 Apr

In-class presentations

Tue 4 May

In-class presentations
FIRST DRAFT DUE

Thu 6 May

In-class presentations

Tue 11 May

In-class presentations

Thu 13 May

Evaluations; in-class presentations

FINAL PAPERS DUE: Thu 20 May, 4:30 p.m.

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