HIST 226 Early Modern Origin of Human Rights

A history survey of the 14th-18th centuries: Renaissance, reformation, scientific advance, global encounters in Spanish and English empires, the Enlightenment, and revolutions (English, American, French). The luxury of European palaces was based upon the exploitation of European peasants and global indigenous peoples. Students seeking origins of the concept of human rights will consider protest pamphlets, utopian fiction, and enlightenment stories (some with film versions), which created empathy for others.

Survey Requirement Met: Europe