Reading and Writing Workshop

Absolutism, Constitutionalism, and Intellectual Transformations (c. 1648–c. 1815)
Session 1: The Rise of Absolute Monarchies
Topics:
  • Characteristics of absolutism
  • France: Louis XIV and Versailles
  • Russia: Peter the Great’s westernization and reforms
  • Theories of absolutism (Bodin, Bossuet)
Primary Sources: Activities:
  • Document Analysis: Compare Bossuet’s justification of absolutism with Louis XIV’s actions.
  • Debate: “Did Peter the Great’s reforms modernize or oppress Russia?”
  • Mapping Exercise: Trace Peter the Great’s westernization campaigns, territorial expansion, and reforms.
Assessment:
  • Short-answer questions analyzing absolutism in France and Russia.

Session 2: The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution
Topics:
  • James I, Charles I, and the Stuart Monarchy
  • Causes and course of the English Civil War
  • Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth
  • The Restoration and the Glorious Revolution
  • The English Bill of Rights (1689)
Primary Sources: Activities:
  • DBQ Practice: Analyze the causes and consequences of the English Civil War.
  • Mock Parliament Simulation: Debate whether Charles I should be executed.
  • Comparison Chart: Contrast English constitutionalism with French absolutism.
Assessment:
  • Free-response essay: “To what extent did the Glorious Revolution establish a constitutional monarchy?”

Session 3: Economic Developments (Mercantilism & the Commercial Revolution)
Topics:
  • Mercantilism and state control of economies
  • The role of joint-stock companies and banking
  • The Dutch Golden Age and the decline of Spain
  • The rise of capitalism and early economic thought (Adam Smith)
Primary Sources: Activities:
  • Mercantilist vs. Capitalist Debate: Use Colbert and Smith to argue for/against economic models.
  • Case Study: Dutch East India Company—analyze its influence on trade and global economics.
  • Data Analysis: Examine graphs on European trade, inflation, and economic shifts.
Assessment:
  • Short-answer questions on mercantilism and early capitalism.

Session 4: Scientific, Philosophical, and Political Developments (c. 1648–c. 1815)
​Topics:
  • The Scientific Revolution (Newton, Galileo, Descartes)
  • The Enlightenment (Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu)
  • Political theories on government, society, and human rights
  • Impact of Enlightenment on revolutions and reforms
Primary Sources: Activities:
  • Gallery Walk: Analyze Enlightenment thinkers and their impact on politics and revolution.
  • Philosophical Roundtable: Debate natural rights, the social contract, and separation of powers.
  • Concept Mapping: Trace how Enlightenment ideas influenced later revolutions.
Assessment:
  • Document-based analysis: How did Enlightenment thinkers challenge traditional authority?
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