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Magic, Reason, New Worlds, 1450-1750 (HPSC30034)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Email: gerhardw@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
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This subject is a history of the intellectual, social, political and economic processes that produced the 'modern world' of the late eighteenth century. With a focus that is global rather than local, the subject deals with the European encounter with other parts of the world and the way encounters, conflicts, and colonisation related to the rise of modern science. It explores the many ways in which different peoples in different worlds interacted and asks how important these encounters were in shaping the making of the modern world, from immediately before Columbus went to the Americas in 1492 to the height of the Enlightenment and the beginning of the Age of Revolutions. It puts special emphasis on looking at both “magic” and “reason” and seeing whether the rise of science means that magic was replaced or not by the advent of knowledge regimes based on reason.
Note: This subject is jointly taught by the History and History and Philosophy of Science disciplines and is an elective in both majors.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject will:
- demonstrate familiarity with the major intellectual, social and political developments of the period from the fifteenth through to the eighteenth centuries;
- be able to reflect critically on the complexities of periodization in History;
- be able to examine intellectual positions and their historical development;
- understand the complex interaction between different forms of experience that contributed to the emergence of modern science;
- put their own position in an historical perspective;
- have developed effective written communication and presentation skills (written and oral), and the ability to collaborate constructively within the classroom;
- be able to conduct independent research including the appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an historical argument;
- demonstrate ethical integrity in written work and classroom activities.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- A document analysis 1500 words, due mid semester (40%)
- A research essay 2500 words, due end of semester (60%)
Hurdle Requirements:
- Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject.
- All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five working days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Gerhard Wiesenfeldt Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 35 hours - 2 x1 hour lectures each week and 1 x 1-hour tutorial for 11 weeks Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 4 March 2019 to 2 June 2019 Last self-enrol date 15 March 2019 Census date 31 March 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 May 2019 Assessment period ends 28 June 2019 Semester 1 contact information
Email: gerhardw@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject readings will be available online and from the bookshop.
Recommended texts and other resources
- Margaret Osler, Reconfiguring the World: Nature, God, and Human Understanding from the Middle Ages to Early Modern Europe. Baltimore: Johns Hopknis University Press, 2010.
- Lorraine Dason and Katharine Park, Wonders and the Order of Nature, 1150-1750. New York: Zone Books, 1998.
- Martin Jay and Sumathi Ramaswamy (eds.), Empires of Vision: a Reader. Durham: Duke University Press, 2014.
- Subject notes
Note: This subject is jointly taught by the History and History and Philosophy of Science disciplines and is an elective in both majors.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major History Major History and Philosophy of Science - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 27 April 2024