HIS 35C Europe in the Age of Hitler An examination of European history, 1914-45, with special attention to the rise and consequences of fascism and Nazism. Traditional and psychohistorical analyses of Hitler are used. The difficulties of statebuilding in Eastern and Central Europe and the consequences of the Great Depression are also emphasized. Topics considered include the functions of the absolutist state, the civilizing of manners, and the nature of peasant rebellions. A study of French history centered upon the rise of the Enlightenment, the diverse origins of the French Revolution, and the course of the revolution through the defeat of Napoleon.
Special emphasis is given to the historiography of the French Revolution.
A study of classic and recent works on European social and cultural history between 1500 and 1800. Topics include peasant revolts, etiquette, and fashion, among others. The course concludes by considering recent efforts to merge social and cultural history. A study of Russian history and culture from the medieval Kievan state to the late 19th century. The role of religion in Russian life, popular culture in the city and the countryside, the evolution of Russia's authoritarian politics, and the ethnic and ethnoreligious conflicts that accompanied the expansion of the Russian Empire are among the topics discussed.