Description:
This course offers an in-depth examination of a period of central European history that defies categorization. For over 150 years, between the Battle of Mohács in 1526 and the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, the Ottoman Empire occupied large parts of the shattered remains of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. During this time, Ottoman sultans claimed to be the inheritors of crown of St. Stephan. This era, wedged between the medieval and modern history of Hungary, is difficult to incorporate into broader narratives without resorting to nationalist tales of struggle and resistence. In our course, we will read across regional historiographies to explore ruptures and continuities. This course is designed to think through themes and problems related to imperial histories, colonial and post-colonial approaches, and cutting-edge digital humanities initiatives. Each session will begin with a historiographical overview provded by the instructor, followed by a disucssion of the readings.
Assessment:
Students will be graded based on attendance and oral class participation (30%), two student-led classroom discussions of case studies, one in week 3/4 and one in week 8 (20%), and three short reading response papers (50%). In consultation with the instructor, students may opt to write a final research paper instead of the reading response papers. During the student led discussion, each presenter will be responsible for ensuring that the class touches upon thematic questions, summaries, and critiques of the reading(s) related to the case study they have been assigned while also presenting its place within the broader historiographical context. The reading response papers will give an informed assessment of at least two course readings and should be approximately 1000 words in length.
Reading response paper 1 due: DATE
Reading response paper 2 due: DATE
Reading response paper 3 due: DATE
For those students opting to write a term paper instead of 3 reading responses: papers are due on DATE. They should be approximately 3000 words in length, approximately. The paper should be in Chicago Style with proper footnotes and subheadings.
Reading:
It is expected that all participants will come to class prepared to discuss the arguments, sources, and methods presented in all of the readings listed as “required” for each class meeting. Students should take notes on arguments, sources, definitions, and questions raised to ensure that they have something constructive to contribute to classroom discussions. Students scheduled to lead the day’s discussion are expected to familiarize themselves with the suggested further readings and related materials. Please pay special attention to acknowledgements and footnotes, as these are often the keys to unpacking to location of a text within the larger scholarly community. All of the required readings are available as electronic copies through the course website.
Learning objectives:
* develop a working definition of key terms: conquest, reconquest, legitimacy, province, condominium
* be prepared to explain different methodological approaches and analytical frameworks to the study conquest and develop your own approach
* become familiar with a broad range of primary sources available for the study of Ottoman Hungary
* identify and map some of the region’s entanglements that cross political and cultural borders
* analyze and explain the web of historiographical layers that need to be peeled back when studying central European history
* identify key historical themes, figures, and turning points in the history of Ottoman Hungary
This course offers an in-depth examination of a period of central European history that defies categorization. For over 150 years, between the Battle of Mohács in 1526 and the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, the Ottoman Empire occupied large parts of the shattered remains of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. During this time, Ottoman sultans claimed to be the inheritors of crown of St. Stephan. This era, wedged between the medieval and modern history of Hungary, is difficult to incorporate into broader narratives without resorting to nationalist tales of struggle and resistence. In our course, we will read across regional historiographies to explore ruptures and continuities. This course is designed to think through themes and problems related to imperial histories, colonial and post-colonial approaches, and cutting-edge digital humanities initiatives. Each session will begin with a historiographical overview provded by the instructor, followed by a disucssion of the readings.
Assessment:
Students will be graded based on attendance and oral class participation (30%), two student-led classroom discussions of case studies, one in week 3/4 and one in week 8 (20%), and three short reading response papers (50%). In consultation with the instructor, students may opt to write a final research paper instead of the reading response papers. During the student led discussion, each presenter will be responsible for ensuring that the class touches upon thematic questions, summaries, and critiques of the reading(s) related to the case study they have been assigned while also presenting its place within the broader historiographical context. The reading response papers will give an informed assessment of at least two course readings and should be approximately 1000 words in length.
Reading response paper 1 due: DATE
Reading response paper 2 due: DATE
Reading response paper 3 due: DATE
For those students opting to write a term paper instead of 3 reading responses: papers are due on DATE. They should be approximately 3000 words in length, approximately. The paper should be in Chicago Style with proper footnotes and subheadings.
Reading:
It is expected that all participants will come to class prepared to discuss the arguments, sources, and methods presented in all of the readings listed as “required” for each class meeting. Students should take notes on arguments, sources, definitions, and questions raised to ensure that they have something constructive to contribute to classroom discussions. Students scheduled to lead the day’s discussion are expected to familiarize themselves with the suggested further readings and related materials. Please pay special attention to acknowledgements and footnotes, as these are often the keys to unpacking to location of a text within the larger scholarly community. All of the required readings are available as electronic copies through the course website.
Learning objectives:
* develop a working definition of key terms: conquest, reconquest, legitimacy, province, condominium
* be prepared to explain different methodological approaches and analytical frameworks to the study conquest and develop your own approach
* become familiar with a broad range of primary sources available for the study of Ottoman Hungary
* identify and map some of the region’s entanglements that cross political and cultural borders
* analyze and explain the web of historiographical layers that need to be peeled back when studying central European history
* identify key historical themes, figures, and turning points in the history of Ottoman Hungary
- Instructor: Robyn Radway