Modern European Economic History

Posted Tue, 2010-02-16 14:41 by backend

 

Dr. Judith A. Miller

Autumn 1998

Dept. of History

Office hours:

7-6564 Bowden 219

Thurs. 2:30-4:30 and by appt.

Email: histjam@emory.edu

This course provides a selective introduction to present debates in European economic history. We will use these debates to explore the conceptual frameworks, methods and models used in the field. We will focus on the questions of economic growth and development, and we will consider them from numerous vantage points. Among the topics we will ponder will be the origins of the industrialization, consumer revolutions, the impact of imperialism, and the emergence and decline of the European-dominated economy. Our last section will look at the impact of American dominance and the movement toward the European Union in the last half of the twentieth century. Because this is an interdisciplinary field, we will discuss also the tensions between the approaches that define the field.

You will be learning at three levels:

The first is the basic, factual level with which you are probably already comfortable. This level includes knowing when significant events happened, such as the abolition of guilds in England and France or when the European Union first came under discussion. It also includes definitions of basic concepts such as the Industrial Revolution, and eventually, why they are problematic at best.

The second level is more difficult, that of historical methods. You will be introduced to economic history as a discipline--what models and approaches are available to scholars, and how does one judge their quality? Why, for instance, would economic historians such as Joel Mokyr and Jan De Vries offer conflicting explanations for the gains in productivity after 1750? Or, what suspicions and evidence that led Sarah Horrell and Jane Humphries to challenge the accepted image of the rising standards of living during the Industrial Revolution? Or, raising questions about more recent phenomena, how does Uta Poigen explain the market for American rocknroll in Germany? Historical scholarship, as you will see, is an ongoing discussion about what events or process are significant, how one can define and assess them, and especially, how each of them reshaped the world. There is, as you will see, little consensus on most of the issues that we will discuss, and much more to explore if one wants to understand how our infinitely complicated world became this complicated.

Third, you will have to take you own stand and decide how best to explain the startling economic transformations of the past 400 centuries. In other words, you will be asked to synthesize the material you have learned and to create your own, original way of fitting it together.

These last two levels--methodology and model building--may be new to you. They will seem very hard at first. But, as you keep pushing yourself, you will find that more and more of that approach makes sense. By the end of the semester, you will be thinking in a much more sophisticated way about historical questions. I encourage you to take what you are learning here and to see if it applies to other courses you are taking.

Your responsibilities include:

Reading each assignment carefully. (The Additional Reading Strategies handout will help you.) Be prepared to discuss the authors arguments, and the evidence and methods being used. As we move along through the reading assignments, you will be asked to compare each authors approach and findings with previous readings.

Attending all classes: Your presence and thoughtful contributions are a vital part of this course. Thus, you will receive a grade for your participation in the discussions, and there will also be pop quizzes on the readings.

Checking Learnlink at least twice per week. I will post any changes or additional information there throughout the semester.

Completing written work: You need to turn it in on time, and to follow the history department paper writing guidelines that I will hand out.

This course follows the Emory University Honor Code. Any suspected violations will be dealt with according to university procedures.

The readings below are available primarily through the bookstore and on Reserve in Woodruff Library. I will post a copy of our syllabus and Reserve items on our Learnlink site. I strongly urge you to purchase the materials now, because the bookstore generally sends unsold items back to the publishers by mid-October. Because the library accidentally deleted our reserve list, they will be hurriedly restoring our readings. If there are any problems, please send me a message via email or Learnlink. (If I do not hear from anyone that there is a problem with a certain set of readings, I will assume that everything is going along smoothly, and will expect you to have prepared the readings for class.)

We will make use of relevant outside lectures in economics or history as they are scheduled. The Atlanta-based Seminar for the Comparative History of Labor, Industrialization, Technology, and Society (SCHLITS) will have 2-3 talks this semester and there may be speakers visiting the history and economics departments who are worth seeing. If the talks are scheduled at times we can attend, we will use them to our best advantage. These talks will supplement our classroom discussions and so are good occasions to take advantage of the opportunities our Emory money supplies.

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

Class Participation

20%

Be ready to discuss each days readings and answer questions on pop quizzes.

 

Midterm Paper

30%

Due Tues., October 20. The papers are to provide a synthetic argument based on our class readings and discussions, and will use a document set that I have developed for this assignment. See the last page of the syllabus for instructions.

Library research report

15%

Due Tues., November 10. Use library research tools to draw up a bibliography of fifteen articles or monographs that treat a topic that we will be discussing in class and that you would like to explore more fully in your final paper.

Final Paper

35%

While not a full-fledged research paper, this project requires you to do outside reading on a topic that we will be addressing in class. In the week after you turn in you Library report, I will have individual conferences so that we can discuss the scope of your topic and select the relevant readings from your bibliography. Due Friday December 11, 5PM.

TOTAL

100%

 Daily Schedule

Thurs., August 27: INTRODUCTION

EUROPE ON THE EVE OF TRANSITION

Tues., Sept. 1: WORKLIFE IN OLD REGIME EUROPE

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., 107(bottom of page)-129.

Robert Duplessis, Transitions to capitalism in early modern Europe (HC240 .D82 1997), selections

Thurs., Sept. 3: INDIVIDUALISM: IDEOLOGY AND DECISIONS

Handouts on John Locke and Adam Smith.

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., 130-134, 144-162

THE QUICKENING PACE

Tues., Sept. 8: MORAL AND MARKET ECONOMIES

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 167-175

E. P. Thompson, The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century, Past and Present 50 (1971): 76-136.

Thurs., Sept. 10: BUYING POWER

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., 163-167, 175-187

Jan De Vries, The Industrious Revolution and the Industrious Revolution, Journal of Economic History 54 (1994): 249-270

Tues., Sept. 15: CONFLICT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE: GREAT BRITAIN

 A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 191-196

Annals of the labouring poor: social change and agrarian England, 1660-1900,

K.D.M. Snell (HD1534 .S64 1985), Chapter entitled Social Relations: The Decline of Service.

Thurs., Sept.17: THE RURAL HOUSEHOLD AT RISK

 

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 214-222

The first industrial woman, Deborah Valenze. (HD6135 .V35 1995), pp. 13-47

Tues., Sept. 22: INDUSTRIALIZATION: THE LIVED EXPERIENCE

Sara Horrell and Jane Humphries, Old Questions, New Data, and Alternative Perspectives Journal of Economic History 48 (1988): 849-880.

Discussion of midterm paper topics, organization and styles. Part 1. Bring Sheridan Baker, The Practical Stylist to Class. The instructions for this assignment are on the last page of the syllabus.

Thurs., Sept 24: TECHNOLOGY AND GROWTH

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 197-209.

The lever of riches: technological creativity and economic progress, Joel Mokyr. HC79 .T4 M648 1990, pp. 81-148, 239-269.

CLOCKS, LEDGERS, AND DISCIPLINE

Tues., Sept. 29: ORGANIZING PRODUCTION

David Landes, What Do Bosses Really Do? Journal of Economic History 46 (September 1986): 585-624.

Gregory Clark, Why Isnt the Whole World Developed? Journal of Economic History 47 (1987?): 141-73.

Thurs., Oct 1: ASSESSING THE FIN-DE-SIECLE ECONOMY

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 296-313.

Alfred D. Chandler, Jr., Creating Competitive Compatibility: Innovation and Investment in the United States, Great Britain and Germany from the 1870s to World War One, In Patrice Higonnet, David S. Landes and Henry Rosovksy, eds. Favorites of Fortune: Technology, Growth and Economic Development since the Industrial Revolution. (HC79 .T4 F38 1991)

Tues., Oct 6: THE TURBULENCE OF THE TURN-OF-THE CENTURY

Sonya Michel and Seth Koven, Womanly Duties: Maternalist Politics and the Origins of the Welfare States, American Historical Review 95 (October 1990): 1076-1108.

UNEQUAL EXCHANGES

Thurs., Oct 8: GROWTH AND EMPIRE

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 313-323.

Fruits of empire: exotic produce and British taste, 1660-1800 / James Walvin, pp. ix-xiii, 9-31, 132-154, 193-98, 199, 207-209, 211-12

FALL BREAK

Thurs., Oct 15: IMPERIAL TIME

Frederick Cooper, Colonizing Time, in Colonialism and culture, Nicholas B. Dirks, ed. (JV305 .C65 1992 ), pp. 209-245.

Tues., Oct 20: MIDTERM PAPER DUE AT 5 P.M., IN BOX OUTSIDE MY

OFFICE DOOR. (NO CLASS).

Thurs., Oct 22: RESEARCH RESOURCES

Class will meet in the Library Computer Training Room with Eric Nitschke of the Reference desk.

Tues., Oct 27: THE LEGACIES OF WORLD WAR ONE

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 346-359.

Thinking ahead: Begin signing up for times to meet with Dr. Miller to discuss your library projects and to select a topic for your final papers. Prepare the tentative bibliography (Library Research Project) based on the research you have done. Times will be available from Wednesday November 11 through Friday, November 13.

Thurs., Oct 29: WORLD WAR TWO

 

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 359-368.

Tues., Nov. 3: POST WAR RECOVERY

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 369-375.

HC240 .M65 1984 The reconstruction of western Europe, 1945-51 / Alan S. Milward.

 

Thurs., Nov 5: THE AMERICAN MOMENT

Charles S. Maier, In Search of Stability: Explorations in Historical Political Economy (HC240 .M17 1987), pp. 1-8, 121-152. (Book is out of print and so is on Reserve only.)

 

Tues., Nov 10: LIBRARY RESEARCH PROJECT DUE, 1 PM IN BOX OUTSIDE

MY DOOR

Meet this week with Dr. Miller to discuss your library project, and to select the topic for your final paper. Sign up times are posted outside my door, and you should have signed up for a time well in advance.

Thurs., Nov. 12: EASTERN EUROPEAN SATELLITES

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 378-384.

HQ1590.7 .E56 1993 Cinderella goes to market : citizenship, gender and women's movements in East Central Europe / Barbara Einhorn.

Tues., Nov. 17: IMMIGRATION: TENSIONS AND GROWTH

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., pp. 384-388.

Immigrants, markets, and states: the political economy of postwar Europe, James F. Hollifield. (JV7590 .H65 1992), pp. 3-41, 74-123.

Thurs., Nov 19: DREAMING POSSIBLE DREAMS?

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 388-98.

The economics of the European Union and the economies of Europe / Larry Neal, Daniel Barbezat, pp. vi-xiii, 1-69. Chapters entitled "The European Union Today," "European Economic Integration, 1945-1958," and "The Customs Union." On reserve, HC241 .N4 1998

Tues., Nov 24: ORGANIZING AND WRITING YOUR FINAL PAPERS

Bring both Sheridan Bakers The Practical Stylist and Kate Turabians A Manual for Writers to class.

THANKSGIVING

Tues., Dec. 1: TESTING THE LIMITS OF THE TRENTE GLORIEUSES

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 395-400.

Larry Neal, Daniel Barbezat, The economics of the European Union and the economies of Europe, pp. 191-273, Chapters entitled "Germany," "France," and "Great Britain." On reserve HC241 .N4 1998

 

Thurs., Dec 3: CENTRAL EUROPE

Ute Poigen, RocknRoll, Female Sexuality, and the Cold War Battle over German Identities, The Journal of Modern History, 68 (September 1996): 577- 616. On J-stor and reserve.

Tues., Dec 8: EUROPE ON THE EVE OF THE UNION

A concise economic history of the world: from paleolithic times to the present / Cameron, Rondo E., 3rd ed., pp. 400-402.

Seducing the French: the dilemma of Americanization / Richard F. Kuisel, pp. 212-237, Chapter entitled "Vive l'Amrique: An Epilogue from 1970 to Euro Disneyland." DC59.8 .U6 K85 1993

Christopher M. Dent, The European Economy: The Global Context, pp. 261-302, chapter entitled "Foreign Direct Investment." HC240 .D453 1997

***********************************************

PAPER DUE ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 11, 5PM

IN THE BOX OUTSIDE MY DOOR.

ANY LATE PAPERS WILL BE MARKED DOWN

ONE LETTER GRADE PER DAY, INCLUDING EACH WEEKEND DAY

Judith A. Miller

History/Economics 352

Midterm Essay Assignment

Due Tues., October 20, 1998 at 5 P.M. in the box outside my office door

During the semester, we have been discussing the ways various economic historians approach the problems of economic growth. An important tool you are developing in this class is the ability to identify and critic the scholarly models in play in the field. This assignment asks you to do just that and then to apply that knowledge to the set of documents for which you become the interpreter. A number of scholars have presented distinct models. Using the document packet I have assembled, create an argument that explains the processes of change they reveal from the particular vantage point of one of the following economic historians:

E. P. Thompson

Deborah Valenze

Alfred Chandler

James Walvin

Gregory Clark

The document packet gives you a wide range of information, transporting you from the farmlands of England to Parisian department stores to Asian ports. Yet, as you read the documents, they should spur reflections on the readings we have done for this class.

 A logical process by which to proceed would be first to re-read article by the economic historian whom you have chosen, identifying the main arguments and evidence s/he uses. Then, read the documents carefully. Which ones take up themes or issues that the author has addressed? Could they be used to extend the authors argument? To refute them? How would the author in question use the documents as the basis for an article?

Then, write that article, using the specific authors model as the basis for your analysis. Make it clear from the essay which author you are using. Present a convincing argument based on these documents, the class readings, discussions and the Cameron textbook. You would also be wise to consult a general western civilization textbook, such as the Robert Palmer and Joel Colton, A History of the Modern World, on Reserve for this course. Such a background text will help you find out more about a specific author, piece of legislation or other material that will fill in your general knowledge of the documents settings. While not every document in the packet would be of interest to every possible historian, many of the documents can be used in multiple ways.

The essay should be typed, double-spaced, approximately 7 pages or 1000-1300 words. Include a title page with a catchy title that captures you argument, and follow the format for a formal title page in Turabian. Be sure to cite your sources following the format for footnotes in Turabian (NO INTEXT CITATIONS ARE ALLOWED). There is an information sheet for when and how to cite or quote sources on our Learnlink subconference. Read it carefully and follow it.

Please note that the history department doors close right after 5 PM, and so if you are late, you risk being unable to turn in the paper on time. Any late paper loses one grade per day, starting at 5 PM, Oct. 20.