History and historical knowledge are the heart and soul of a liberal arts education.
History transforms a person from a half-educated person into an educated person.
History enriches your understanding of the past and present, and history can help you prepare for the challenges the future will bring. This course examines the 400-year period of modern history. Political events, intellectual trends, economic development and international relations will be the main focus. During Week 1, we will see how Louis XIV and France developed the institutions of absolute monarchy. Louis was widely admired by other European rulers, and his innovations helped define politics for years to come.