HIS2311 – The Industrialization of Europe
Course description
Course content
The primary goal of this course is to introduce you to the history of industrialization in Europe from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. We will consider the broad economic and social changes of industrialization as well as the role of technological development. The course will cover the classic Industrial Revolution which took place in Britain during the period 1760-1830 and the way its history has been told, but it will focus extensively on the different experiences and shape of industrialization as it unfolded across Europe. By the end of the course, you should have not only an overview of historical developments in European industrialization but also an understanding of the debates among scholars as they attempt to explain a very complex phenomenon.
A common question is whether the industrialization of Europe emerged as one process or several. Was the development of each country unique or part of a common European process? Did Great Britain serve as the main source of technology, capital, and industrial competence? Or did the social, political, and institutional environment of each country create different paths? The course debates questions of this kind by comparing different European countries, Great Britain, France, and Germany in particular. Lastly, we consider European developments in the context of global history: when did Europe ‘forge ahead’ of other continents, and why?
Courses which are particularly well suited complements to this course are:
Learning outcome
The course introduces both factual knowledge and analytical perspectives to the history of industrial development in Europe from the onset of the “first industrial revolution” in the mid-eighteenth century until around 1920.
Students who have successfully completed the course will know the main features of industrialization, including developments within a wide range of industries and the social, technological and economic contexts within which they were developed. They will also know the different approaches to the study of industrialization that historians have adopted, within fields such as economics, history of technology and social history, and they will thereby be familiar with the central concepts, interpretations, and scholarly debates historians have brought to the analysis of European industrialization. Students will be able to appreciate global aspects of the European experience of industrialization.
The course will assist students’ skills development in the areas of critical reading, independent thinking, and academic writing, and students should be able to communicate their knowledge orally as well as in writing.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
General university entrance requirements.
Recommended previous knowledge
A good ability to read and understand English is required for this course.
30 study points from either HF- or SV-faculty.
Overlapping courses
The course does not overlap with other courses offered at UiO.
Teaching
is course is given in the form of seminars (24 h). The seminars are open only for students with admission to the teaching.
Class meetings will involve a mix of discussion and lecture. Please come to class prepared to discuss the week's readings. Also note that the lectures and readings do not always duplicate one another.
Attendance: Your attendance at the first seminar is obligatory. If you fail to turn up, you will loose your place in the course.
Qualifying assignment: During the course, students will write a paper which will receive comments from the teacher The paper will be handed out the second time of class, and handed in the eight. Normally, all students will be assigned the same task. The length of the paper should be approximately six pages (where one page is estimated to hold 2300 characters without spacing). The paper must be approved before the exam; otherwise participants will be barred from taking the final exam. If the paper isn't approved, the students may use a week to improve their paper for a second assessment. If the paper still isn't approved, the student will be barred from taking the exam.
To the paper, the following form must be attached, Obligatory Statement Concerning Cheating
Accepted compulsory activity/assignment is valid the two following semesters during which the course is taught. Exceptions may occur if the form of evaluation alters, if the tuition plan alters significantly, or other substantial adjustments are made.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The qualifying assignment has to be approved before the student may take the final exam.
The final assessment is a 4 hour written exam. This exam is graded from A-E (pass) and F (fail).
It is not possible to follow this course without admission to the course since the form of assessment is integrated in the teaching of this course.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
After the examination result is announced, there will be possible to have an explanation of grades from the examiner. At oral examinations or assessments of practical skills, a request for such an explanation must be made immediately on notification of the mark. Requests for explanations of other assessments must be submitted within one week after the candidate learns of the mark. This request must be made by sending an e-mail to: historie-student@iakh.uio.no The explanation will be given either in writing or oral, this will be decided by the examiner. Please inform of your phone number, e-mail address where you can be contacted as well as your candidate number.
Tidligere gitte eksamensoppgaver
Explanations and appeals
Please note that the student must state the reasons for the complaint and it will be sent, along with a written explanation of the grade from the examiner, to the Appeals Committee.
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.