History of Belgium and the Low Countries

Teacher(s)

Bousmar Eric;

Language

French

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

The student will develop a general kwowledge of the history of the Low Countries and Belgium and an in-depth kwowledge on the main evolutions, structures, processes, events, ideologies and characters within the history of these area. The student will also develop a critical thinking on the issues implied by any attempt of writing a national history (such as the definition of a reference frame, the danger of teleology, the variations of scale, the Hineininterpretierung).

Content

After presenting the general analysis-frame, the course follows a chronological path. The first Part is dedicated to the long period (Pre- and Protohistory, Roman Times, Early Middle Ages up to the Carolingian period) during which the Low Countries did not form a distinctive area but that nonetheless saw the setting up of long-term structures and developpments in this region (population settlements, linguistic features, political and ecclesiastical boundaries, political and social institutions and so on). Part 2 focuses on the formation of the various territorial principalities (9th-14th c.) and their destiny once integrated into the Burgundian and Habsburg Netherlands : the evolution of the Burgundian-Habsburg Netherlands, as well as of the principalities of Liège and of Stavelot-Malmedy, is studied from a mainly political and institutionnal point of vue. The following Parts deal with this area during the French annexation (1795-1814/1815) and the Dutch-Belgian amalgam (1814-1830), to end with the history of the Kingdom of Belgium, from centralized to federal State. This includes a look on the parallel evolutions of Netherland and Luxembourg. The variation of identities across times and the rise of proto-national then national feelings within this area receive a special attention. The colonial past of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi is also examined, as it is part of the history of the Belgian kingdom.

Teaching methods

Ex-cathedra lecture. Documents are presented and analysed or discussed during the class.

Evaluation methods

Oral examination (with written preparation) assessing the knowledge of the course. The student must be able to give an in-depth and detailled analysis of a given situation or fact. He/She must also be able to give a transversal analysis of the evolution accross various historical periods.

Other information

Lecture handout that includes an outline of the course and a thematic bibliography.
Powerpoint presentation including textual and visual documents as well as maps (available on the Moodle platform of the course after each class).
Various other documents available on the Moodle platform of the course.

Bibliography

Cf. bibliographie détaillée jointe au syllabus.
A bibliography is included in the lecture handout.

Teaching materials

• Histoire de Belgique et des anciens Pays-Bas. Syllabus- cadre

Faculty or entity

> PHLB