About the Course

The course is designed to be an introduction to basic problem in the history of Central and Eastern Europe – nation building. It will lead from theory of a nation to a 19th century largely successful attempts to develop national consciousness, usually under foreign rule.

Course Syllabus

1. Introduction to the nation

Terminology: nation, nationalism, historical, non-historical nations, nationalism: cultural, ethnic, civic, East-Central Europe. Nation according to Ernst Gellner, Benedict Anderson, Eric Hobsbawm, Anthony Smith

2. Development of nation: Western European pattern versus East-Central

Examples of civic nation states: France, Low Countries, Britain

East-Central European state Habsburg Empire

Case study: Magyars and other nations of the Kingdom of St. Stephen

Germanisation, magyarisation and policy of cooperations with Croats

Case study: Czechs and Slovaks

Two nations in the Habsburg empire with a smiliar and different ways of nation-building

Case study: Poles

Difficult nation building in a former state partitioned and socially divided.

Recommended background

There is nothing required except your eagerness to learn something new.

Suggested readings

There are no obligatory readings for this course. Generally a book about history of Eastern Europe could be useful. Below are just some suggestions.

1. P. Wandycz, The Price of Freedom: A History of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to the Present, London 2001.

R. Bideleux, I. Jeffries, History of Eastern Europe. Crisis and Change, London and New York 2007.

I.D. Armour, A History of Eastern Europe 1740-1918: Empires, Nations and Modernisation, London 2012.

Course format

The class will consist of short lectures, maps, mind maps with quiz questions at the end.

FAQ

Q. What resources do I need for this class?

A. All you need is an internet connection and good will.

Q. Does University of Gdańsk award credentials after the course?

A. No credentials will be awarded in connection with this course.

Q. Do I need prior history knowledge to take this course?

A. No such knowledge is required. Although it would be helpful to look at the map of Central and Eastern Europe to see what states are there.