INTS 140 : An Introduction to European Studies

What is Europe, and what does it mean to be “European”? A region within the Eurasian continent, Europe has uncertain edges. It is home to considerable diversity, with subregions such as Western Europe, Iberia, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Baltics, the Balkans, and more. Europe has seen considerable out-migration, especially to the Americas, as well as growing in-migration, especially from Africa and the Middle East. This course provides an interdisciplinary look at the meaning of Europe and the emergence of a common European identity, especially through the European Union. Historically, we begin in Rome and Christendom, through the Enlightenment and colonialism, as well as the World Wars and Cold War through today. Thematically, we explore migration, religion, race, and nationalism, with particular attention to minority identities and the roles of institutions in shaping emergent European identities.