Medicine, Science and Politics at the Courts of Early Modern Europe (U03861)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-MEDSC

This course investigates the political uses of science in Early Modern Europe. It focuses on the personal and political applications of medical and scientific knowledge at court, looking at the different ways in which scientific knowledge informs, or is informed by, courtly and international politics. The course will also explore the ways in which Early Modern science and technology affected social and political change. The course will address, in turn, some of the following topics: medicine and the body politic; the etiology of court diseases; medicine as spectacle; medicine between university and the court; scientific patronage; science as propaganda; reformed medicine and science; technology, power and display; technology and war; alchemy, astrology and magic at court. Central to this subject will be the development of an understanding of the range of methodological approaches to historical inquiry. Hence discussion of these themes will be informed by sophisticated theoretical analyses from the fields of history and philosophy of science, sociology of science, and anthropology of court society. It is expected that by the end of the course students will have gained an informed understanding of the political, military and social role of science in the Early Modern period.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : A pass in any first level historical course and any second level historical course equivalent. Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admissions Secretary to ensure a place is available (Tel; 503783).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2008	11:10	13:00	Room 3.332, Adam Ferguson Building	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course students will be required to demonstrate in their course work, written examination and oral presentations the following attributes:
• the capacity for analytical and critical thinking;
• the ability to assess critically primary and secondary sources, understanding the challenges faced by historians when investigating the past;
• the ability to assess the merit of different methodological approaches to the sources;
• the capacity to work independently on a research topic and demonstrate the ability to evaluate and use effectively the relevant information;
• be able to express themselves clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing;
• the ability to produce well-argued, well-documented, and properly referenced coursework;
• good time-management and the ability to organize the workload effectively so as to meet the established deadlines.

Assessment Information

The course will require one 3000 word essay and one two hour examination (April/May). The essay will make up one third of the final assessment. The examination will be worth two-thirds of the final assessment.