This module sets out to provide an understanding of the history of European cities in the period, c. 1500-1800. In particular it is orientated towards the cultural and social history of cities. It encourages students to examine the history of European cities within a comparative framework in order to detect and analyse common patterns and trends as well as peculiarities and differences. It aims to achieve this through the examination of four over-arching themes: regulating structures and forces; practices of everyday life; cultures and beliefs; conflicts and crises.

This module explores the social and cultural history of European cities in the early modern period. It discerns patterns of urban experience common throughout Europe as well the significant differences between individual cities in terms of character and development. It uncovers the economic, political, social, topographical structures and forces that shaped cities. It investigates the social and cultural practices, attitudes and values that regulated the character of everyday life in the city, examining such topics as occupation and identity; social and gender stratification and marginalisation; communication and exchange; ritual and cultures of display; crime and punishment; piety and belief. It examines the urban experiences of conflict and crisis in times of war, social unrest, plague and famine. It also investigates the impact of major historical phenomena such as the Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment on European cities as well as the urban context to the development of these movements.

Upon successful completion of this module students should be able to: * Define the structures and forces that shaped early modern cities; * Observe common and differentiated patterns in the historical development of cities in early modern Europe; * Analyse models and idealised versions of cities and their relationship to realities of urban existence; * Comprehend the nature of the urban life as experienced at different levels of the social hierarchy; * Define and interpret the social and cultural practices affecting urban existence; * Identify the various conflicts and crises that afflicted early modern cities; * Assess the impact of these crises on the development of cities; * Critically evaluate the role of urban cultures in the development of the key socio-cultural historical; movements and processes of the period and vice versa; * Identify key themes in early modern urban history in a European context; * Collate and synthesise data from secondary and primary sources; * Formulate and present historical arguments in a variety of forms; and * Demonstrate a capacity to think and work independently and in a group context.

* Upon successful completion of this module students will display an appreciation of the importance of cities in the social and cultural history of early modern Europe.

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Upon completion of the module students will have developed knowledge of the past and skills of analysis which will serve them in a variety of professional, cultural and social contexts. This module will introduce students to methods and sources for historical research and cultivate skills of historical analysis and writing. As such it will provide a basis for postgraduate research or indeed for research and analysis orientated activities in the workplace.