Europe in the Age of the Reformation (1500-1648)

Summer Session A, 2004

Dr. Helfferich

Email: thelff@hotmail.com Phone: 893-2565

Office Hours: HSSB 3232 Tues. 12:30-2:30pm (or by appointment)

Class Time: MTWR 11-12:05 HSSB 4020 Class Website: www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~tbh0

Course Description:

The Reformation era was one of the most momentous in European history. It was both a time of incredible upheaval

and a time of amazing artistic, philosophical, and economic change and development. Religious reformers

challenged the long-held supremacy of the papacy, local nobles challenged the authority of kings and emperors, and

these, in turn, challenged each other for land and power. This was also a time of new European overseas expansion

and of the growth of new financial systems, new military technology and strategies, a new style of art, architecture,

and music, and new ideas about the natural world and man's (and woman's) place in it. As we study this period, we

should keep in mind a number of questions. How did the people of this time react to such incredible change and

upheaval? Where did different people believe that authority belonged? What did they think was the proper

relationship between church and state? And how did they think they could find truth?

Course Calendar:

We will be holding weekly discussions of the course readings. Please be ready to discuss the readings in class on

the week they are due.

Ø Week 1: Introduction to the Reformation

Readings: WEBSITE: Augustine, On the Predestination of the Saints & on the Gift of Perseverance;

Aquinas, On the Truth of the Catholic Faith; Erasmus, In Praise of Folly

Ø Week 2: The German Upheaval

Readings: Luther, The Pagan Servitude of the Church; An Appeal to the Ruling Class of the German

Nationality; Bondage of the Will, Secular Authority (Selections)

Ø Week 3: Zwingli and the Radical Reformation

Readings: WEBSITE: Huldrych Zwingli, Exposition of the Faith, 67 Articles; The Schleitheim Confession;

Hans Hut, On the Mystery of Baptism; Thomas Müntzer, Sermon to the Princes. HANDOUT: Balthasar

Hubmaier, Schriften; Zofingen Colloquy (On Government); Ordinance of the Twelve Elders of Münster

Ø Week 4: The Rise and Spread of International Calvinism

Paper Due Monday

Readings: WEBSITE: Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

Ø Week 5: The Catholic Reformation

Readings: WEBSITE: Ignatius Loyola, Spiritual Exercises; St. Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection;

Anna Bijns, Poems; Council of Trent (Selections)

Ø Week 6: The Search for Stability

Final Exam Thursday

Readings: Descartes, Discourse on Method (Selections)

Required Texts:

· René Descartes, Discourse on Method (ISBN 0-14-044107-7)

· John Dillenberger, ed., Martin Luther, Selections from his Writings (ISBN 0-385-09876-6)

· De Lamar Jensen, Reformation Europe: Age of Reform and Revolution ** (Optional textbook)

· Readings on Website

Grading:

· Paper: 40%

· Discussion: 20%

· Final Exam: 40%

Papers:

Here's a brief guide to the paper, but I'll also be providing a more detailed handout. The paper should...

· Be handed in at the beginning of class Monday of Week 4

· Be typed, be double-spaced, use 12-point font, and be between 1600-1800 words.

· Fully answer the question asked.

· Involve NO extra research other than your reading of the assigned texts. I want YOUR ideas, not those of

some 19th century German academic!

Exam:

The final exam will be held on the last day of class. It will be essay style and will cover information both from the

lectures and from the readings. We'll go over the content and structure of the exam in more detail before the final.

Some Other Notes:

Ø Please come to me for help. I am always more than happy to help you with your paper, your exam prep, the

Ø readings, or with any other questions or problems in my office hours, by appointment, or by email.

Ø The paper is due at the beginning of class on the due date (no exceptions). If you are having problems with

Ø your writing or if you have writing-related questions, please come see me. I'm always willing to offer

Ø suggestions, read rough-drafts, and share some tricks and strategies.

Ø Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a failing grade. If you have any questions about

Ø what constitutes plagiarism, please don't hesitate to come see me.