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Padraic Kenney
Department of History
University of Colorado, Boulder
kenneyp@spot.colorado.edu

History 4613 - University of Colorado at Boulder
Eastern Europe to World War I
Instructor: Padraic Kenney
Summer 1995

EASTERN EUROPE TO WORLD WAR I


This course will examine the development of modern nations and states in 
Eastern Europe from the late medieval era to World War I. The course 
will stress two main themes: first, the issue of 'backwardness': why is 
Eastern Europe less developed than Western Europe, and in what way? 
Second, we will explore the development of national and political 
consciousness among the people of Eastern Europe.  In other words, how 
did people who 200 years ago did not even think of themselves as Poles, 
Romanians, or Bosnians come to value their nations so highly?  We will 
consider the role of social and political forces within and outside 
Eastern Europe.

Grading:  Short papers, 10% each; class participation*, 10%; midterm 
examination, 15%; final examination, 25%; term paper, 30%.  See separate 
handout for paper assignments.  
*Class participation.  Since this is a small class, I expect that you 
will be an active participant.  This means, among other things, having 
read the assigned reading before the class period.

Required Reading: There are three textbooks and two primary sources (one 
novel, one memoir).  All except the last will be on reserve.
                Wandycz, The Price of Freedom 
                Chirot, ed., The Origins of Backwardness in Eastern Europe
                Sugar and Lederer, eds., Nationalism in Eastern Europe
                Andric, Bridge on the Drina 
                Slomka, From Serfdom to Self-Government: Memoirs of a 
Polish Village Mayor (xerox )

Extensions on the paper or the exams will only be granted by prior 
arrangement, and only due to a documented family or medical emergency.  
If the paper is turned in late, or an exam made up late, without prior 
arrangement, one full grade will be deducted every day; papers turned in 
on the day due but after class will also lose one full grade.  No 
assignment may be made up more than one week after the original due 
date.  You must complete all assignments to pass this class.

Lectures
PART ONE: OLD EASTERN EUROPE

Mon., June 5:  Introduction: Themes, purposes, and methods.  What is 
Eastern Europe? 

Tues., 6.6: The people and the lands of Eastern Europe.  Origins of East 
European cultures.      
Reading: Wandycz, Introduction.

Wed., 6.7:   Discussion: What is 'backwardness?' 
Reading: Chirot, "Causes and Consequences of Backwardness" (in Chirot)

Thurs., 6.8: Early modern society and economy; feudalism.       
Reading: Gunst, "Agrarian Systems of Central and Eastern Europe (in Chirot); 
Wandycz, ch. 1.

Fri., 6.9:  Imperial Rule in Eastern Europe: Russian, Prussian, Habsburg, 
and Ottoman Empires.   
Reading: Wandycz, chs. 2-3; Andric.

Mon., 6.12:  The Enlightenment and western culture in Northeast Europe.  
Poland's noble democracy.       
Reading: Wandycz, ch. 4.         
First paper due in class.

Tues., 6.13:  Mythmaking and the search for a usable past.  
Reading/film/discussion in class.       
Reading: Lelewel, Sienkiewicz (handout).

PART TWO: RISE OF NATIONALISM

Wed., 6.14:  Nationalism: definitions and development. 
Reading: Sugar, "External and Domestic Roots" (Sugar/Lederer); Wandycz, ch. 5.

Thurs., 6.15:  Midterm exam in class.

Fri., 6.16:   Poland's uprisings, 1830-1864.  Why were they undertaken, 
and why did they fail? 
Reading: Brock, "Polish Nationalism" (Sugar/Lederer)

Mon.,  6.19:  Nations in the Habsburg Empire: Hungarians, Czechs, 
Slovaks.
Reading: "Hungary"; "Nationalism in Czechoslovakia" (Sugar/Lederer)

Tues., 6. 20:   The Balkans to 1878, I:  Habsburg Croatia and Ottoman 
Serbia. Bosnia.        
Reading: "Nationlism and the Yugoslavs"(Sugar/Lederer); Andric.

Wed., 6.21:  The Balkans to 1878, II:   Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia. 
Reading: "Bulgarian Nationalism", "Romanian Nationalism" (Sugar/Lederer)

Thurs., 6.22:  Jews and Jewish nationalism in Eastern Europe.

Fri., 6.23:  The emancipation of the peasantry.  The question of 
backwardness revisited: can Eastern Europe modernize?   Reading: From 
Serfdom, 1-147.

Mon., 6.26:   In-class prepared group discussion/review. Special lecture 
/ discussion / debate: Nationalism, backwardness, and present conflicts.        
Second paper due in class.

PART THREE: BUILDING THE NATION-STATES: Society and Politics.

Tues., 6.27:  Social change and politics in the late nineteenth 
century. 
Reading: Stokes, "Social Origins of East European Politics" (in Chirot)

Wed., 6.28:  The rise of political parties, 1880-1900: Poland, Czechs, 
Slovaks, Hungarians.    
Reading: Wandycz, ch. 6.

Thurs., 6.29:  Socialism: its origins in Eastern Europe.  Socialism and 
nationalism.    
Reading: From Serfdom, 148-246.

Fri., 6.30:  The establishment of the Balkan states, 1878-1908.

Mon., July 3:  Countdown to World War I: the Balkan wars; Bosnia; 
tensions in the north. 

Tues., 7.4:  No class.  Celebrate American Nationalism.

Wed., 7.5:   Conclusion: World War I and the fall of the imperial 
system.  
Review of semester.    
Final paper due in class.

Final Exam: Thursday-Friday, July 6-7, 9:15-10:50 AM, in Hellems 247.

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