Exam preparation Idea of Europe
THE IDEA OF EUROPE: FINAL EXAM
Instructions:
Answer 4 (FOUR) out of the five questions below.
Write your ID-number and the question number at the top of every page.
Use a new sheet of paper for each new question.
Write down your answers in the form of a mini-essay (at least one page per question), demonstrating a combination of conceptual insight and factual knowledge.
Write in complete, grammatically correct English and legibly.
Questions:
1. Historian Norman Davies observes that most historical accounts of Europe to-date have left out the history of Eastern European countries and Russia in particular.
a. Give political, religious, cultural and economic reasons that have led to this omission of the eastern parts of the geographical Europe from conventional histories of Europe.
b. Do you think that Russia could, or should, be considered an integral part of Europe? Give a short argumentation based on some of the considerations discussed in the part (a) of the question.
2. Which of the two great European revolutions--the French or the Industrial—had greater impact on the processes of modernization in Europe? Why? (Underline your answer with clear arguments.)
3. Compare Weber’s concept of rationality with Elias’ concept of civilization.
What, if anything, do the two concepts have in common? How do they differ?
4. It has been argued that the idea of Europe came about primarily through negative identification, i.e. by opposition to ‘the other’. Explain the role that this ‘other’ played in the formation of the idea of Europe. Refer to examples of negative stereotyping both within and outside Europe. 5. The European ‘miracle’, i.e. the rise of Europe to world domination, could not be foreseen until the 15th century, when Europe took a leap ahead of other civilizations. What was it that caused the European miracle? Why did other empires (Ming China, the Ottomans) not rise to this level?
Instructions:
Answer 4 (FOUR) out of the five questions below.
Write your ID-number and the question number at the top of every page.
Use a new sheet of paper for each new question.
Write down your answers in the form of a mini-essay (at least one page per question), demonstrating a combination of conceptual insight and factual knowledge.
Write in complete, grammatically correct English and legibly.
Questions:
1. Historian Norman Davies observes that most historical accounts of Europe to-date have left out the history of Eastern European countries and Russia in particular.
a. Give political, religious, cultural and economic reasons that have led to this omission of the eastern parts of the geographical Europe from conventional histories of Europe.
b. Do you think that Russia could, or should, be considered an integral part of Europe? Give a short argumentation based on some of the considerations discussed in the part (a) of the question.
2. Which of the two great European revolutions--the French or the Industrial—had greater impact on the processes of modernization in Europe? Why? (Underline your answer with clear arguments.)
3. Compare Weber’s concept of rationality with Elias’ concept of civilization.
What, if anything, do the two concepts have in common? How do they differ?
4. It has been argued that the idea of Europe came about primarily through negative identification, i.e. by opposition to ‘the other’. Explain the role that this ‘other’ played in the formation of the idea of Europe. Refer to examples of negative stereotyping both within and outside Europe. 5. The European ‘miracle’, i.e. the rise of Europe to world domination, could not be foreseen until the 15th century, when Europe took a leap ahead of other civilizations. What was it that caused the European miracle? Why did other empires (Ming China, the Ottomans) not rise to this level?