MO3214 The Decline and Fall of the French Old Regime (1715-1789)

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

TBC

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof G R Rowlands

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof G Rowlands

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Eighteenth-century France was the cultural leader of Europe, but mounting domestic difficulties made its efforts to remain the arbiter of power on the continent increasingly difficult to sustain. At home the absolute monarchy had great difficulty in adjusting to changing political, social and cultural expectations that would eventually engulf the Bourbon state as its international adventures produced financial bankruptcy. This module will explore France in the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI in order to understand the nature of old regime state and society, and the difficulties under which its people and rulers laboured. It will also give students the opportunity to engage with one of the most controversial subjects in European history: the origins of the French Revolution.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS AT LEAST 60 CREDITS FROM {MO1007, MO1008, MO2008, HI2001, MH2002}

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 60%, Coursework = 40%

Re-assessment

4,000-word essay = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour seminar, plus 1 office hour.

Scheduled learning hours

20

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

280

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.