Utrecht (Utrecht University), Netherlands

The Making of Europe - From Middle Ages to Modernity

when 17 July 2017 - 28 July 2017
language English
duration 2 weeks
credits 4 EC
fee EUR 1320

Taking the beautiful city of Utrecht as a starting point, this course will bring you the opportunity to really ‘step into history’. The many museums, cathedrals and canals of Utrecht and some other Dutch cities that will be included in the program, will offer you some of the most breath-taking highlights of Dutch history and culture. This historical journey, which illuminates Europe from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century, will help you to understand the many social, historical, religious and cultural factors that came to shape modern Europe.

We will study for example the Dutch Golden Age; the era spanning roughly the 17th century in which the Dutch became one of the world’s greatest maritime, economic and artistic world powers after rebelling against their Spanish rulers. You will visit Utrecht’s Gothic Saint Martin’s Cathedral, the place where the Union of Utrecht was signed in 1579, signaling the Dutch hunger for independence. But you will also visit the wharfs and wealthy canal houses - still testifying to the incredible economic success of Europe in the Golden Age - , whilst the public parks and patrician houses attest to the rising bourgeoisie in the 19th century. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to visit several historical museums in Utrecht, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the thirteenth-century royal palace in The Hague where he Dutch government is seated today. After these two weeks in Utrecht, you will be able to analyze and discuss the role of the Netherlands in the making of Europe and have a firm understanding of the main political, religious and cultural developments that took place in Europe in this period. During these two weeks, you will definitely be able to ‘experience’ history!


This course is taught at Utrecht University (Netherlands) as part of the China Europe International Summer School (CEISS). CEISS is a collaboration between Fudan University (China), Peking University (China), Utrecht University (Netherlands), Freie Universität Berlin (Germany), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy) and Edvance Education International (China), offering summer courses that explore the world's main economic, social and political trends and themes and the way they impact on the economies and societies of Europe and China.


This course can be combined with the following CEISS courses:
- The Making of Europe: Rise of Civilization
- The Making of Europe: full course
- China, the US, Europe and the Rise of Asia: Ideas, Culture and Perceptions

Course leader

Dr. Jaap Verheul (Utrecht University)

Target group

Students of the humanities and social sciences, including economics and business, political sciences, European studies, international relations, history, culture studies and sociology, the sciences and engineering at senior undergraduate or graduate level with an interest in culture, society and politics. A general background in the social sciences may help, but no specific expertise is required.

Course aim

-

Fee info

EUR 1320: course fees + course materials + housing

Scholarships

Not available