Political structures and institutions of the Belgian space in the modern period [LHISB221]

Learning outcomes

Acquire a broad general and interdisciplinary culture by opening up to other disciplines and understanding their links with history Develop specialist knowledge in areas of the historical discipline and understand the issues involved Acquire a strong capacity for information analysis, synthesis and writing

Objectives

To acquire a thorough knowledge of the political history and the organisation, functioning and activities of the institutions (central, provincial and local) of the Belgian provinces and the Principality of Liege from the 15th century to 1795.

Content

The course is an in-depth study of the political and institutional aspects of the history of Belgium, aspects that could only be sketched in the general course of history of the Modern Age in the first year. Several key processes in the evolution of the Southern Netherlands and the Principality of Liège are highlighted: the genesis of the state since the 15th century (and the reunion of the Belgian provinces under the sceptre of the Dukes of Burgundy), the increasing administrative centralisation and standardisation as well as regional and local resistance and particularisms. The place of the Netherlands and the Principality on the international scene is also discussed.