Faiths and Furies

• Who is the lecturer for the module on Early Modern Britain?

  Dr. Joe Harley
• What should students do for course-related issues?

  Address all course-related issues to Dr. Joe Harley.
• What is the duration of the module?


  23 September 2024 – 9 December 2024
• What type of lectures will be conducted in this module?

  Interactive lectures including questions, discussions, and source analyses.
• Where can students find information for seminars and assessments?

  On Canvas.
• What is expected of students in preparation for seminars?

  Students are expected to complete reading and think through questions as requested.
• What is the weight of the essay assignment in the assessments?


  60%
• What is the deadline for the essay assignment?

  Friday 15th November, 2.00pm (week 8)
• What major changes will be analyzed in the module?

  Social, political, and religious changes in early modern Britain and Europe.
• What period does the module focus on regarding the European religious revolution?

  From the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I to the civil wars of the seventeenth century.
• What will students explore regarding the late Restoration period?


  The political and scientific changes and the development of Enlightenment ideas.
• What is the focus of Week 2 in the module structure?

  Religion and Reformation.
• What significant event occurred in 1688?


  The Glorious Revolution.
• What does the term 'historiography' refer to?


  The study of history and how historians' viewpoints on a topic have changed.
• What was the focus of historians before 1960?


  Historians focused on those at the top of society, such as kings and nobility.
• What shift occurred in historiography since the 1960s?


  The rise of social history, focusing on topics like gender, poverty, and crime.
• How do J. C. D. Clark's and Paul Langford's views differ regarding English society?


  Clark views it as an unchanging, classless society, while Langford emphasizes the importance of the middling sort and social mobility.
• What are the key characteristics of early modern Britain (c. 1500-1800)?


  • Religion was central to society.
  • Four kingdoms with different cultures and laws.
  • Population structured into aristocracy, gentry, middle sort, and lower orders.
  • Rural populations with small towns and cities.
  • Transition into modernity with significant changes.
• What are the differences between the early modern and modern periods?

  • Early modern (1500-1800): Focus on faith, religion, and social hierarchy.
  • Modern (1800-present): Emphasis on industrialization, urbanization, and social mobility.
  • Different historiographical interpretations of these periods.
• What was Britain's place in the world around 1500-1750?


  Britain was a growing power but faced challenges from other European nations.
• How did the English Civil War impact society?


  It led to significant political changes and conflicts over governance and religion.
• What role did religion play in early modern Britain?


  Religion was key to how people viewed the world and structured society.
• What was the population structure in early modern Britain according to Gregory King, 1688?


  Aristocracy, gentry, middle sort, and lower orders.
• What characterized the lower orders in early modern Britain?


  The majority of the population, politically weak, and worked a range of jobs.
• What was the significance of the Acts of Union?


  They united Wales, Scotland, and Ireland with England.
• How did the Renaissance and Enlightenment affect faith in early modern Britain?


  They caused some erosion in faith but religion remained vital.
• What was the impact of the European religious revolution in Britain?

  It influenced the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I and led to civil wars.
• What was the focus of Week 10 in the module structure?


  The Age of Exploration and Rise of Empire.
• What does the term 'proto-industry' refer to in the context of early modern Britain?


  Industry that took place in homes, also known as cottage industry.
• How did urbanization affect the middle sort in early modern Britain?


  They became more powerful politically, especially at a local level.
• What was the role of women in early modern Britain?


  Women were often seen as wives and mothers, with limited roles outside the home.
• What was the significance of the Glorious Revolution in 1688?


  It marked a shift in power dynamics between the monarchy and Parliament.
• How did the English Civil War influence the concept of governance?


  It raised questions about the authority of the monarchy and the rights of Parliament.
• What were the implications of the rise of Protestantism in early modern Britain?

  It led to significant religious conflicts and changes in governance.
• What characterized the relationship between the four kingdoms in early modern Britain?


  They were often separate with different cultures, laws, and languages but became more united over time.
• What was the focus of Week 11 in the module structure?

  The American and French Revolutions, their causes, and their impacts.
• What was the significance of the rise of the middling sort in early modern Britain?


  They played a crucial role in the development of a more permeable social hierarchy.
• How did the concept of the public sphere evolve in early modern Britain?


  It developed alongside urbanization and the rise of polite manners and sociability.
• What was the impact of colonial expansion during the early modern period?


  It led to conflicts over empire and shaped Britain's global influence.
• What was the focus of Week 12 in the module structure?


  To be confirmed (TBC).