History of Western Political Thought, 1500-1800

Catalog description

In 1500, most European governments were monarchies. By 1800, there had been successful revolutions in Britain, France, and America. The result of these revolutions was a dramatic increase in popular participation in government. There was also a revolution in thinking about politics- most intellectuals now hoped and expected that democracy would spread. This course, focusing on primary sources, examines the major political thinkers of the era- including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau- to understand how this crucial intellectual change came about.