The European Enlightenment was an era of radical intellectual and social change, setting many of the patterns of modernity. This course will examine the contribution of Britain to this watershed period. Running from the era of John Locke in the late 17th century to that of Burke, Paine, and Wollstonecraft in the late 18th century, the course will chart the intellectual, social, and cultural developments that shaped Britain as it emerged as a global power. Topics will include: consumerism and capitalism; empire, freedom, and slavery; religion and secularism; crime and disorder.
During weekly seminars we will discuss primary source readings. In contextualizing ‘canonical’ works in the political, social, and cultural contexts of eighteenth-century Britain, we will interrogate their contribution to western modernity. Evaluations will consist of a combination of participation and contribution to in-class activities and discussions, quizzes, and written assignments.
