Students

MHIS2020 – Twentieth-Century Europe

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Keith Rathbone
keith.rathbone@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in HIST or MHIS or MHIX units)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Was Europe indeed the 'dark continent' suggested by historian Mark Mazower?  This unit offers a political, social, cultural and economic overview of Europe's 20th century relations with the wider world. We will trace European’s obsession with race and empire and consider how that gave rise to the First World War.  In the second part, we address the crisis of European liberalism in the face of the Great Depression, Russian communism, and the rise of fascism and Nazism.  We finish with an investigation of Europe’s postwar evolution in the context of the Cold War; the Americanisation of Western Europe and the effects of decolonisation and post-colonial immigration. Through a wide range of primary and secondary sources, class discussions, and scaffolded assessments students will develop their critical historical reading and writing skills. 

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of conceptual and historiographical approaches to interpreting twentieth-century European history.
  • ULO2: Analyse historical evidence, scholarship and changing representations of the past.
  • ULO3: Contribute to contemporary debates about Europe and the world with an informed and critical understanding of the relationship between past and present.
  • ULO4: Identify and interpret a wide variety of secondary and primary materials.
  • ULO5: Undertaking an original research project with an evidence-based argument that adheres to the methodological and ethical conventions of the discipline.
  • ULO6: Reflect critically on the knowledge and skills developed in their study of history.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Project Proposal/Annotated Bibliography 25% No 14/03/2025
Secondary Source Analysis 30% No 02/05/2025
Research Paper 45% No 06/06/2025

Project Proposal/Annotated Bibliography

Assessment Type 1: Annotated bibliography
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 14/03/2025
Weighting: 25%

 

This assessment has two required components. Component One: In the proposal, students must design a research essay question focusing on any topic in 20th century European history. Component Two: In the Annotated Bibliography, students will generate a bibliography of at least five secondary sources that supports their research project.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of conceptual and historiographical approaches to interpreting twentieth-century European history.
  • Analyse historical evidence, scholarship and changing representations of the past.
  • Contribute to contemporary debates about Europe and the world with an informed and critical understanding of the relationship between past and present.
  • Identify and interpret a wide variety of secondary and primary materials.
  • Undertaking an original research project with an evidence-based argument that adheres to the methodological and ethical conventions of the discipline.

Secondary Source Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 02/05/2025
Weighting: 30%

 

For this assignment, students must examine a monograph (i.e. book) of their choosing. This monograph should be related to their final paper topic.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of conceptual and historiographical approaches to interpreting twentieth-century European history.
  • Analyse historical evidence, scholarship and changing representations of the past.
  • Contribute to contemporary debates about Europe and the world with an informed and critical understanding of the relationship between past and present.
  • Identify and interpret a wide variety of secondary and primary materials.
  • Undertaking an original research project with an evidence-based argument that adheres to the methodological and ethical conventions of the discipline.

Research Paper

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 29 hours
Due: 06/06/2025
Weighting: 45%

 

Essay: self-designed from Assignment 1 - your research project proposal.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of conceptual and historiographical approaches to interpreting twentieth-century European history.
  • Analyse historical evidence, scholarship and changing representations of the past.
  • Contribute to contemporary debates about Europe and the world with an informed and critical understanding of the relationship between past and present.
  • Identify and interpret a wide variety of secondary and primary materials.
  • Undertaking an original research project with an evidence-based argument that adheres to the methodological and ethical conventions of the discipline.
  • Reflect critically on the knowledge and skills developed in their study of history.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

There is no text book for this unit. All essential readings will be provided. Students will need to conduct some of their own research online and/ or in the library to complete assessment tasks. External and OUA students will be able to complete all tasks off campus.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2025.02 of the Handbook