PT|EN
European Studies I
Courses Degree in European Studies
Cod: 31016
Department: DH
ECTS: 6
Scientific area: European Studies
Total working hours: 156
Total contact time: 15

This course addresses the notion of Europe and the construction of its cultural values from Classical Antiquity to the first steps of the European Union in the second half of the 20th century. The course represents an introduction to the cultural history and ideas of Europe through a systematic recapitulation of the most important periods that constitute the European development process. The main issue of the course consists in a methodical and systematic introduction to the way in which Europe was formed, starting with Antiquity and its religious heritages, continuing with the formative stages of Middle Ages and Renaissance, with the epoch of Enlightenment and French Revolution, with the “long 19th century”, finally reaching the “short 20th century” and the first attempts at European integration through the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community. Nevertheless, this means not a simple chronology of events in the geographical space of Europe, but an attempt to demonstrate that European identity is more a process than a fixed entity, more an interconnection than a sequence of events.

  • Europe
  • Cultural History
  • European Culture
  • European Civilisation

The main goals of the course are:

  • to obtain a solid knowledge of the cultural history of Europe and of central themes within the framework of this evolution, understanding Europe as an unfinished civilisational process;
  • to acquire a firm knowledge of the origins, interpretations and transformations of the idea of Europe during different historical periods and in different socio-cultural contexts;
  • to have a clear understanding of the different occurrences, projects, instructions and actors that have contributed to the creation of a politically and culturally united European entity;
  • to develop independent and critical thinking on the European question and the current state of Europe, and to be able to value Europe’s heritage. 

  • Europe in Classical and Late Antiquity: mythology, geography, and values
  • The Middle Ages: the emergence of Europe
  • The Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation
  • The idea of “Perpetual Peace” and the thinkers of the Enlightenment
  • Europe since the French Revolution
  • Europe’s suicide in the first half of the 20th century
  • The resurgence and division of Europe in the years following World War II
  • The first European Community (1950-1957)

Bibliography:

  • A obligatory reading list is available in each topic
  • Franco, José Eduardo; Cieszynska, Béata; Pinheiro, Teresa (coords.) (2013). Repensar Europa. Gradiva.
  • Jenkins, Simon (2019). Brief History of Europe. Editorial Presença.
  • Ribeiro, Maria Manuela Tavares (2003). The Idea of Europe, A Historical Perspective. Quartet.

Supplemental Bibliography:

  • Burke, Peter (2019). What is Cultural History? Polity.
  • Le Goff, Jacques (2007). As Raízes Medievais da Europa. Editora Vozes.
  • Morin, Edgar (2010). Pensar a Europa. Publicações Europa-América.
  • Padgen, Anthony (ed.) (2007). The Idea of Europe, from Antiquity to the European Union. Cambridge University Press.
  • Rietbergen, Peter (2020). Europe: A Cultural History. Routledge.
  • Steiner, George (2017). A Ideia de Europa. Relógio d’Água.
  • Stoica, Alina (2015). History of the European Idea. From Origins until the mid-20th century. Lambert Academic Publishing.
  • Zweig, Stefan (2017). O Mundo de Ontem: Recordações de um Europeu. Assírio & Alvim. 
     

E-learning

Continuous assessment is privileged: 2 or 3 digital written documents (e-folios) during the semester (40%) and a presence-based final exam (p-folio) in the end of the semester (60%). In due time, students can alternatively choose to perform one final presence-based exam (100%).

  • Knowledge in english (reading) is beneficial.