NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 歐洲現代史導讀(1919)
	(Eng.) Selected Readings in Modern European History
Offering Dept	College of Liberal Arts
Course Type	Required	Credits	1	Teacher	LIN KEN AN
Department	Bachelor Program in Taiwan Humanities and Creativity/Undergraduate	Language	English	Semester	2026-SPRING
Course Description	This course explores the historical progression of modern Europe from the 19th-century dynastic imperial order to the mid-20th century era of global ideological confrontation. The first half of the course analyzes World War I, starting with its structural origins (imperialism, nationalism, militarism) and the July Crisis of 1914. Students will examine the nature of "Total War," including the brutality of trench warfare and the double-edged sword of military technology. We will also investigate global shifts such as the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the Russian Revolution, and the impact of the United States' entry into the conflict. The second half of the course transitions into the Interwar Period and World War II. We will analyze how the "peace settlements" of Versailles and Trianon, along with the collapse of the four major empires (German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman), created a vacuum filled by the rise of totalitarianism. The curriculum covers the ideological surge of Fascism and Nazism, the failure of appeasement, and the catastrophic scale of WWII. Key topics include the "Blitzkrieg," the war of annihilation on the Eastern Front, the systematic genocide of the Holocaust, and the dawn of the nuclear age. Finally, we reflect on how these two global conflicts dismantled the old European hegemony and paved the way for the Cold War and the modern nation-state system.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)			Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives	Competency Indicators	Ratio(%)	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
1.Analyze the Imperial Collapse: Identify the structural reasons for the decline of the 19th-century dynastic order and the subsequent rise of modern nation-states. 2.Understand the Nature of Total War: Evaluate the socio-economic and military characteristics of "Total War," focusing on how industrialization and technology redefined the battlefield. 3.Evaluate Geopolitical Continuity: Analyze the direct causal links between the 1919 peace settlements (Versailles, Trianon) and the resurgence of conflict in 1939. 4.Critique Totalitarian Ideologies: Examine the psychological and economic factors that led to the rise of Fascism and Nazism as alternatives to failing democratic systems. 5.Assess Global Consequences: Discuss the impact of world wars beyond Europe, including the reorganization of the Middle East and the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers. 6.Reflect on Human Ethics: Grapple with the ethical implications of 20th-century atrocities, such as chemical warfare and the Holocaust, and their role in shaping modern human rights frameworks.			Lecturing topic Discussion/Production Networking/Distance Education Exercises Discussion	Written Presentation Attendance Oral Presentation Assignment Quiz
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content Week 1 Introduction & The Twilight of Empires Week 2 1914: The July Crisis Week 3 Stalemate & Attrition Week 4 The Technology of Death Week 5 Global Fronts & Revolution Week 6 The Final Push (1917-18) Week 7 The Peace of Versailles; Imperial Collapse & Legacy Week 8 Midterm Evaluation Week 9 The Interwar Crisis Week 10 Rise of Totalitarianism Week 11 Road to Catastrophe Week 12 Blitzkrieg & Fall of Europe Week 13 War of Annihilation: The East Week 14 The Final Solution Week 15 The Global Turning Points;A New World Order Week 16 Final Evaluation self-directed learning    02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia.    03.Preparing presentations or reports related to industry and academia.
Evaluation
1. Continuous Assessment (40%) -Class Participation & Weekly Discussion (10%): Students are expected to engage in weekly Q&A sessions and contribute to discussions based on the assigned readings. -Short Assignments & Document Analysis (30%): Two short written assignments (approx. 800 words each). Students will analyze primary sources, such as war diaries from the trenches or excerpts from the Treaty of Versailles. 2. Midterm Assessment (30%) Scope: Covers content from Week 01 to Week 08 (Origins of WWI to the Imperial Collapse). Format: In-class essay exam or a take-home analytical report. Students must demonstrate an understanding of the structural causes of WWI and the complexities of the 1919 peace settlements. 3. Final Assessment (30%) Scope: Covers content from Week 09 to Week 16 (Interwar Period to the New World Order). Format: Comprehensive final exam or a research paper. The focus is on the rise of totalitarianism, the ideological nature of WWII, and the transition into the early Cold War era.
Textbook & other References
Self-made Materials by the lecturer
Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website
Microsoft Office PPT, Generative AIs, Digital Handouts, Websites & Links
Office Hours
Please contact by email: gensosuikogaiden@yahoo.com.tw
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)
01.No Poverty   02.Zero Hunger   09.Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure   16.Peace and Justice include experience courses：N

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Update Date, year/month/day：2026/02/25 11:51:32	Printed Date, year/month/day：2026 / 3 / 10
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