Heidelberg Through the Ages Sample Syllabus

HIST 217J / 317J

Course Materials:

Detwiler, Donald S., Germany : A Short History, second eidition (revised). Southern Illinois University, 1989
Guide booklets: city of heidelberg, Heidelberg Castle

Course Description:

A study of the geographical, historical, and economic background that created the complex structures of Heidelberg. Topics include relevant monuments and documents of art and architecture and their relation to the cultural and historical developments.
Also discussed will be the role of Heidelberg`s rulers, the electors of the Palatinate, and their polticial and dynastic entanglements in German and European history.
Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 217J or HIST 317J.

Course Goals/Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to see the envolvement of a so-called “romantic” city in general German and partly also European history. They will learn how to interpret historical monuments ands museum exhibits correctly and discuss these on an academic level. They will also learn that factual interpetation differs from popular beliefs.

Grading Information and Criteria:

HIST 217J -

three field trip reports

45%

comprehensive final exam

55%

HIST 317J -

three field trip reports

30%

comprehensive final exam

40%

research paper

30%

Note: reports and exams are on a take-home basis!

Other Information

Classroom lecture will be supplemented by excursions to relevant sites in Heidelberg.
Visits of museums will also be part of these excursions.
Students are expected to attend lectures and participate in excursions in order to successfully complete the course requirements.
The lecturer will be available at any time to anwers student questions and offer academic support.

Project Descriptions

Students will write reports on the fieldtrips based on special criteria to show their ability to relate lecture contents with on-site experience.
They will complete a comprehensive final exam which will test their knowledge gained in the lecture part of the course. Students are expected to include their own conclusions and analysis of the subject matter.
Upper-level students will write a ten-page research paper on a topic which connects to the content of the course. A list of relevant topics will be handed out to the students in the beginning of the course.

Course Schedule:

Classes take place from 0900 - 1730 daily, with the exceptions of Day1 and Day 8.

Day 1, 1600	(after arrival) Introductory Meeting
Day 2	Roots: Heidelberg Man, Celtic settlements and Roman forts The first bridge across the Neckar Germanic Migrations: Alemanni and Franks take over Early Christianity: monks on Heiligenberg
Day 3	Medieval Heidelberg and the Palatinate: The Hohenstaufen Era: the Rhine Palatinate and the founding of the city The House of Wittelsbach: the first electors of Heidelberg The founding of the university
Day 4	The Politcal Phase I: Ruprecht – a king from Heidelberg Renaissance and reformation in Heidelberg The Castle: from fortress to residence
Day 5	The Politcal Phase II: Frederick V and Elizabeth Stuart: the Bohemian crown Heidelberg and the Thirty Years’ War The wars of Louis XIV: Heidelberg is deleted
Day 6	The End of the Palatinate: The electors abandon Heidelberg for Mannhein and Schwetzingen The French Revolution and Napoleon: Heidelberg becomes part of Baden
Day 7	The Romantic Revival: Heidelberg becomes a center of German romanticism Count Graimberg saves the ruins of the castle Heidelberg in the era of German liberalism: the forty-eighters Student life and tourism: Mark Twain in Heidelberg
Day 8	Final Meeting (ending at 1200): Assignments due

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HIST 217J -	three field trip reports	45%
	comprehensive final exam	55%
HIST 317J -	three field trip reports	30%
	comprehensive final exam	40%
	research paper	30%