HIS32300 Weaponizing the Word: Media and Conflict in Pre-Industrial Europe

Academic Year 2021/2022

'Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one', so said Martin Luther. He understood the power of print in pre-Industrial Europe. Over the course of this module, we will look at a series of cataclysmic case studies: how Martin Luther spearheaded a mass movement by mobilising the printing presses into the service of the German Reformation; at how Catholics responded to this onslaught; at how pamphlets and other forms of print were employed by various factions during the bitter and protracted French Wars of Religion; and, finally, at the English Civil War. You will deepen your awareness of print culture in sixteenth and seventeenth-century Europe, and how this can be investigated. You will be introduced to established and new research tools and techniques, and gain insight into how these are transforming our understanding of the role and place of print in early-modern society.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

* To develop your understanding of the place and role of print in early-modern society, especially during moments of crisis.
* To help you formulate your own view as to the role of print within the broader communications landscape of the period.
* To introduce you to established and new research techniques which are transforming our understanding of pre-Industrial print cultures. You will be introduced to practical bibliography, to using new reserach databases and digital resources, and will gain a sense of the value (and limitations) of big data in research.
* You will develop confidence in handling and working with early-printed books (the real things, as well as digital surrogates).
* You will develop your skills in identifying and pursuing research threads.
* You will gain greater confidence in presenting your own views, and contesting the views of others.
* You will gain greater confidence in formal historical writing.

Indicative Module Content:

Introductions
Introducing practical bibliography (UCD Special Collections)
Big Data
Brand Luther
Germany – The Catholic Response
The French Wars of Religion
The Crisis of the League, 1587-1589
English Pamphlet Culture of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
News Culture in Early Modern Europe
Fieldtrip to Marsh's Library, situation permitting

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

22

Project Supervision

1

Specified Learning Activities

95

Autonomous Student Learning

95

Total

213

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Variety of teaching approaches are used: active/task-based learning (e.g. practical bibliography, data visualiaton); peer and group work; critical writing; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning; debates; case-based learning; student presentations. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Bibliographical Description and 1,000-word introduction to early printed pamphlet/book in UCD Special Collections Unspecified n/a Graded No

25

Assignment: Data visualisation exercise Unspecified n/a Graded No

15

Essay: 3,000-word end of term research essay Week 12 n/a Graded No

40

Continuous Assessment: Seminar contribution Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

20


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.