Profound political, social, economic, and cultural transformations reshaped Europe between the French Revolution of 1789 and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914—a period often referred to as the “long nineteenth century.” It was an era marked by revolution and reaction, the rise of the nation-state, the spread of liberalism and socialism, the expansion and contestation of empires, and the emergence of modern mass politics and culture. These decades witnessed not only dramatic shifts in power and ideology, but also enduring changes in the ways Europeans understood society, identity, and progress.

Rather than following a purely chronological narrative, the course is organized thematically around key developments: the revolutionary legacy and the reconfiguration of political order; the industrial transformation of economies and societies; the making and unmaking of empires at home and abroad; the cultural construction of class, gender, race, and religion; and the increasing tensions between order and upheaval in the lead-up to global war.

Students will be encouraged to critically evaluate both contemporary interpretations and retrospective analyses of the nineteenth century, while developing a nuanced understanding of the ways in which this formative period laid the groundwork for modern Europe and and the global forces that shaped its development during this transformative century. Particular emphasis will be placed on these transnational processes and comparative perspectives that challenge conventional national narratives.