A study of the Habsburg Empire and its relationship with the states of Central Europe and the peoples living there through an analysis of crucial points in their common history through the end of World War I. The course presents this history as an essential background for understanding present day Austria. Topics include the medieval origin and the enlargement of the Habsburg Empire; the attempt to modernize and centralize the Habsburg lands under the auspices of enlightened absolutism; the consequences of the stagnation of reform caused by the shock of the French Revolution; the Napoleonic Wars and the revolutions of 1848; the Habsburg attempt to cope with the economic and social change through industrialization and the rising tide of nationalism; the Compromise with Hungary and constitutionalism as chance and failure to preserve the multi-national empire; and the eventual breakup of the Habsburg Empire under the strain of World War I.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Understand the historical foundations of present-day Austria
• Be aware of the historical complexity of Central Europe
• Be able to name the principal historical develompents of Austria’s history
Written midterm (30%)
and final (30%);
Excursion journal with reflection and analysis (20%);
class participation (20%).
The midterm will consist of 3-4 general questions. You will have to combine the information you read, heard in class and saw on the excursions. The questions need to be answered in the form of short, essay-like paragraphs. Time: 60 minutes
The final will consist of three statements about the course content, of which you can choose one. You will have to write an essay (introduction, three arguments, conclusion) about one of these statements agreeing, partly agreeing or disagreeing with it. Time: 60 minutes
Furthermore, you are supposed to take notes during the excursions, analyzing them in the end and creating a fluent story that contains the main points of the excursions related to the reading assignments and the course content. This excursion journal should be about five to six pages.
In class at the beginning of each lesson, there will be a short discussion of primary sources handed out (e.g. photographs) one week before. You are required to examine the sources according to guidlines discussed during the first lesson and share your thoughts and findings with your colleagues.
content:
Week 1
Introduction, presentation of the course, discussion of possible excursions and goals.
The “Poor Counts” and Life in the Middle Ages The “Wild East”: Austria as a Border Area throughout
History Education: “Privilege of Clergy” Feudalism: Running an Empire without Cash
Excursion to the Imperial Treasury
Week 2
Emperors, Kings, Dukes and Counts – and who else? Life during the „Age of the Cathedrals“ A Swiss
Moves East: Rudolf I. 14th Century: The Plague and the Years in the Wilderness
Required reading: Wandruszka 33-49
Excursion to the 1st district of Vienna: Roman ruins, medieval quarters: ancient legends and their reality
Week 3
15th Century: The Habsburg Comeback and the Last Knight “The Empire Where the Sun Never Sets” The Good News: You, lucky Austria, Marry! The Bad News: Religious Discord
Required reading: Wandruszka 88-102
Excursion to the Imperial Collection of Arms and Armour
Week 4
From Civil War to World War: The Thirty Years War The Storm from the East: the Turks - A Baroque
World Required reading: Ingrao 23-53
Excursion to the Historical Museum of the City of Vienna I
Week 5
Great Power Politics: Charles VI’s Struggle to Bequeath an Empire
Required reading: Ingrao 105-149
Excursion to the Belvedere
Week 6
The Double Eagle during the „Age of Revolutions“
The House of Lorraine and Enlightened Absolutism – Fighting the French Revolution: Napoleon’s
Whipping Boy and “A World Restored” Required reading: Ingrao 220-241
Excursion to the Museum of the Battle of Aspern (First Defeat of Napoleon)
Week 7
Repression and Retreat into the Home: The Biedermeier - Liberalism and Nationalism Divide and Rule I: 1848 and the Historic Nations – Neo-Absolutism – Bankruptcy and Constitutions
Required reading: Taylor 47-70
Excursion to the Historical Museum of the City of Vienna II
Week 8
1866 and Dualism – Divide and Rule II: “Well-Tempered Discontent” – Economic Progress and Political Deadlock Post-Liberalism: Fin de siècle Vienna and Mass Democracy
Required reading: Taylor 123-140
Excursion: The Politics behind the Ringstrasse
Week 9
Fossils in a Modern Age: The Least of the Great Powers – The Non-Imperialist Empire – The Aggressive Empire: Preventive Wars, the more the merrier? Required reading: Taylor 214-232
Excursion to the Imperial Crypt and the Augustinerkirche
Week 10
1914: Sarajevo and the “Third Balkan War” – “The Lights Went Out”: Total War and War- Time Socialism - 1918: Defeat and Dissolution – Pseudo-Nation-States: The Successor States
Required reading: Taylor 233-252
Excursion to the Museum of Military History
Required readings:
Ingrao, Charles. The Habsburg Monarchy 1620-1815. 1994.
Taylor, A.J.P. The Habsburg Monarchy 1809 to 1918. 1955.
Wandruszka, Adam. The House of Habsburg. 1964.
Recommended readings:
Barker, Thomas. Double Eagle and Crescent. 1967. Beller, Steven. Francis Joseph. 1996.
Bireley, Robert. Religion and Politics in the Age of the Counterreformation. 1981.
Blanning, T.C.W. Joseph II. 1994.
Cornwall, Marc (Ed.). The Last Years of Austria-Hungary (2nd ed.). 2003. Crankshaw, Edward. Maria Theresa. 1969.
Duby, Georges. The age of the cathedrals: art and society 980 – 1420. 1981.
Evans, R.J.W. The Making of the Habsburg Monarchy 1550-1700. 1979. Hochedlinger, Michael. Austria’s Wars of Emergence 1683-1797. 2003. Kann, Robert. The Multi-National Empire. 1950.
Kissinger, Henry. A World Restored. 1957. MacKay, Derek. Prince Eugene of Savoy. 1977.
Maureen, Healy. Vienna and the Fall of the Habsburg Empire. Total War and Everyday Life in World War
I. 2004.
Nielsen, Erika. Focus on Vienna 1900. Change and Continuity in Literature, Music, Art and Intellectual
History. 1982.
Okey, Robin. The Habsburg Monarchy c. 1765-1918. 2001.
Palmer, Robert. The Age of the Democratic Revolution. I The Challenge. 1974. Sked, Alan. The Decline and Fall of the Habsburg Monarchy. 1989.
Spielman, John. Leopold I of Austria. 1977.
Williamson, Samuel. Austria-Hungary and the Origins of the First World War. 1991.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Stefan Wedrac graduated with honours in History from the University of Vienna. He worked for the Austrian General Settlement Fund for Victims of National Socialism and collaborated on the 2007/2008 exhibition of the Austrian State Archives about the 12th battle of the Isonzo. Presently he teaches at IES Vienna and works as an research assistant at the Department of Roman Law of the University, mainly researching the department’s history during National Socialism.
A study of the Habsburg Empire and its relationship with the states of Central Europe and the peoples living there through an analysis of crucial points in their common history through the end of World War I. The course presents this history as an essential background for understanding present day Austria. Topics include the medieval origin and the enlargement of the Habsburg Empire; the attempt to modernize and centralize the Habsburg lands under the auspices of enlightened absolutism; the consequences of the stagnation of reform caused by the shock of the French Revolution; the Napoleonic Wars and the revolutions of 1848; the Habsburg attempt to cope with the economic and social change through industrialization and the rising tide of nationalism; the Compromise with Hungary and constitutionalism as chance and failure to preserve the multi-national empire; and the eventual breakup of the Habsburg Empire under the strain of World War I.
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
• Understand the historical foundations of present-day Austria
• Be aware of the historical complexity of Central Europe
• Be able to name the principal historical develompents of Austria’s history
Lectures, discussion, assigned readings, excursions
Written midterm (30%)
and final (30%);
Excursion journal with reflection and analysis (20%);
class participation (20%).
The midterm will consist of 3-4 general questions. You will have to combine the information you read, heard in class and saw on the excursions. The questions need to be answered in the form of short, essay-like paragraphs. Time: 60 minutes
The final will consist of three statements about the course content, of which you can choose one. You will have to write an essay (introduction, three arguments, conclusion) about one of these statements agreeing, partly agreeing or disagreeing with it. Time: 60 minutes
Furthermore, you are supposed to take notes during the excursions, analyzing them in the end and creating a fluent story that contains the main points of the excursions related to the reading assignments and the course content. This excursion journal should be about five to six pages.
In class at the beginning of each lesson, there will be a short discussion of primary sources handed out (e.g. photographs) one week before. You are required to examine the sources according to guidlines discussed during the first lesson and share your thoughts and findings with your colleagues.
Week 1
Introduction, presentation of the course, discussion of possible excursions and goals.
The “Poor Counts” and Life in the Middle Ages The “Wild East”: Austria as a Border Area throughout
History Education: “Privilege of Clergy” Feudalism: Running an Empire without Cash
Excursion to the Imperial Treasury
Week 2
Emperors, Kings, Dukes and Counts – and who else? Life during the „Age of the Cathedrals“ A Swiss
Moves East: Rudolf I. 14th Century: The Plague and the Years in the Wilderness
Required reading: Wandruszka 33-49
Excursion to the 1st district of Vienna: Roman ruins, medieval quarters: ancient legends and their reality
Week 3
15th Century: The Habsburg Comeback and the Last Knight “The Empire Where the Sun Never Sets” The Good News: You, lucky Austria, Marry! The Bad News: Religious Discord
Required reading: Wandruszka 88-102
Excursion to the Imperial Collection of Arms and Armour
Week 4
From Civil War to World War: The Thirty Years War The Storm from the East: the Turks - A Baroque
World Required reading: Ingrao 23-53
Excursion to the Historical Museum of the City of Vienna I
Week 5
Great Power Politics: Charles VI’s Struggle to Bequeath an Empire
Required reading: Ingrao 105-149
Excursion to the Belvedere
Week 6
The Double Eagle during the „Age of Revolutions“
The House of Lorraine and Enlightened Absolutism – Fighting the French Revolution: Napoleon’s
Whipping Boy and “A World Restored” Required reading: Ingrao 220-241
Excursion to the Museum of the Battle of Aspern (First Defeat of Napoleon)
Week 7
Repression and Retreat into the Home: The Biedermeier - Liberalism and Nationalism Divide and Rule I: 1848 and the Historic Nations – Neo-Absolutism – Bankruptcy and Constitutions
Required reading: Taylor 47-70
Excursion to the Historical Museum of the City of Vienna II
Week 8
1866 and Dualism – Divide and Rule II: “Well-Tempered Discontent” – Economic Progress and Political Deadlock Post-Liberalism: Fin de siècle Vienna and Mass Democracy
Required reading: Taylor 123-140
Excursion: The Politics behind the Ringstrasse
Week 9
Fossils in a Modern Age: The Least of the Great Powers – The Non-Imperialist Empire – The Aggressive Empire: Preventive Wars, the more the merrier? Required reading: Taylor 214-232
Excursion to the Imperial Crypt and the Augustinerkirche
Week 10
1914: Sarajevo and the “Third Balkan War” – “The Lights Went Out”: Total War and War- Time Socialism - 1918: Defeat and Dissolution – Pseudo-Nation-States: The Successor States
Required reading: Taylor 233-252
Excursion to the Museum of Military History
Ingrao, Charles. The Habsburg Monarchy 1620-1815. 1994.
Taylor, A.J.P. The Habsburg Monarchy 1809 to 1918. 1955.
Wandruszka, Adam. The House of Habsburg. 1964.
Barker, Thomas. Double Eagle and Crescent. 1967. Beller, Steven. Francis Joseph. 1996.
Bireley, Robert. Religion and Politics in the Age of the Counterreformation. 1981.
Blanning, T.C.W. Joseph II. 1994.
Cornwall, Marc (Ed.). The Last Years of Austria-Hungary (2nd ed.). 2003. Crankshaw, Edward. Maria Theresa. 1969.
Duby, Georges. The age of the cathedrals: art and society 980 – 1420. 1981.
Evans, R.J.W. The Making of the Habsburg Monarchy 1550-1700. 1979. Hochedlinger, Michael. Austria’s Wars of Emergence 1683-1797. 2003. Kann, Robert. The Multi-National Empire. 1950.
Kissinger, Henry. A World Restored. 1957. MacKay, Derek. Prince Eugene of Savoy. 1977.
Maureen, Healy. Vienna and the Fall of the Habsburg Empire. Total War and Everyday Life in World War
I. 2004.
Nielsen, Erika. Focus on Vienna 1900. Change and Continuity in Literature, Music, Art and Intellectual
History. 1982.
Okey, Robin. The Habsburg Monarchy c. 1765-1918. 2001.
Palmer, Robert. The Age of the Democratic Revolution. I The Challenge. 1974. Sked, Alan. The Decline and Fall of the Habsburg Monarchy. 1989.
Spielman, John. Leopold I of Austria. 1977.
Williamson, Samuel. Austria-Hungary and the Origins of the First World War. 1991.
Stefan Wedrac graduated with honours in History from the University of Vienna. He worked for the Austrian General Settlement Fund for Victims of National Socialism and collaborated on the 2007/2008 exhibition of the Austrian State Archives about the 12th battle of the Isonzo. Presently he teaches at IES Vienna and works as an research assistant at the Department of Roman Law of the University, mainly researching the department’s history during National Socialism.