LFU:online

Dealing with historical sources and research literature; application of methods from auxiliary sciences of history; oral and written presentation; critical discussion

Until today the functioning of states can only in part be explained from their written rules. This seems to apply even more to the systems of rule before the ‘modern’ constitutions from the late eighteenth century onwards. Therefore, the seminar will deal with the question of how political institutions and practices related to one another in early modern Central and Western Europe. At the same time, we will exercise basic historical methods and forms of presentation with reference to selected examples.

Reading and discussion of sources and secondary literature; thematic presentations; group work

Regular and active participation; oral presentation; written final paper

Reinhard, Wolfgang, Geschichte der Staatsgewalt. Eine vergleichende Verfassungsgeschichte Europas von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart, 3rd Ed., München 2002; Ertman, Thomas, Birth of the Leviathan: Building States and Regimes in Medieval and Early modern Europe, Cambridge 1999; Duchhardt, Heinz, Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte 1495-1806, Stuttgart 1991

Willingness to read English texts is expected.