The course focuses primarily on the political history of the French kingdom. In parallel, two other French-speaking regions of Europe—the Low Countries and French-speaking Switzerland—are examined. The latter is studied in particular, given that the Swiss Confederation offers an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between political regime and linguistic homogenization. Artificial intelligence and/or machine translation are not used during the conduct and/or assessment of the course.

The course aims to present the major political, economic and social developments, as well as the cultural movements that prevailed in France and in French-speaking countries between the 16th and 18th centuries. Its broader objective is to familiarize students with the political history of the French kingdom, as well as with French and Francophone culture, by examining the influences that shaped them from the Reformation up to the outbreak of the French Revolution. Emphasis is placed on the major political, economic, social, and cultural events that marked or even shaped the developmental trajectory of France and the Francophone regions—notably the Low Countries and French-speaking Switzerland—during the period in question.

Week 1: The Origins of the Reformation. – The Protestantisms. 

Week 2: The Commercial Revolution.

Week 3: Mercantilism and the consequences of the Commercial Revolution.

Week 4: Revolutionary developments in agriculture. – Socioeconomic transformations.

Week 5: The era of absolutism and its political theory.

Week 6: The intellectual revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Week 7: The Enlightenment.

Week 8: Intellectual Revolution: Science – Art – Literature.

Week 9: The Origins of the French Revolution.

Week 10: The Background of the French Revolution.

Week 11: The French Revolution: The collapse of the old regime.

Week 12: A new stage: the radical revolution.

Week 13: Europe Facing the French Revolution. Feedback – Comments.

Burns, Ε. Μ. (1983) Εισαγωγή στην Ιστορία και τον Πολιτισμό της νεότερης Ευρώπης. Α΄ Τόμος. μτφ. Δαρβέρης, Τ., επιμ. Κολιόπουλος, Ι. Σ. Θεσσαλονίκη: Παρατηρητής 

Berstein, S.-Milza, P. (1997) ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΡΩΠΗΣ 1. ΑΠΟ ΤΗ ΡΩΜΑΪΚΗ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΙΑ ΣΤΑ ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΑ ΚΡΑΤΗ. 5ΟΣ-18ΟΣ ΑΙΩΝΑΣ. μτφ. Δημητρακόπουλος, Α. Κ. Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Αλεξάνδρεια

Μενεγάκη, Γ. Μ. (2015)  ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΓΑΛΛΙΚΟΥ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ. ΔΙΑΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΙΚΕΣ ΩΣΜΩΣΕΙΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΗ ΓΑΛΛΙΚΗ ΕΠΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΩΣ ΤΙΣ ΜΕΡΕΣ ΜΑΣ. Αθήνα: Καρδαμίτσα

The course takes the form of a lecture.

Use of ICT in teaching.

Oral examination and/or semester assignment.