Medieval and Early Modern European History (research)

Specialisation of: History (research)
Degree: Master of Arts in History (research)
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 2 years
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English. Classes for which reading knowledge of Dutch is required may be taught in Dutch.
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60139
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The Research Masters’s specialisation in Medieval and Early Modern European History focuses on the momentous cultural and political transformations that characterised the period between 1300-1700. The course allows you to specialise in the history of the Low Countries, which in this period was one of Europe’s major commercial, cultural and political hubs. Yet you can also explore the history of other parts of Europe, especially the Habsburg world.

Unlike most other Dutch history departments, Leiden offers expertise in British, Iberian and Central European history as well as in the political and cultural history of the Netherlands. You are encouraged to think comparatively about the transformations in politics, culture and religion of this era.

The staff runs larger research programs on issues like feuds and factions, the Burgundian nobility, war memories and identity formation. Many of the courses relate to the research interests of the academic staff. The courses allow you to engage closely with current scholarly debates and offer you a chance to scrutinize new ideas as they are being developed.

Excellent library and archival resources in Leiden and The Hague offer you quick and efficient access to many primary sources and secondary studies. The courses offer research training, as well as a chance to study current historical debates, so as to prepare you for the writing of an independently researched MA thesis.

How did Dutch sound?

Michiel de Vaan

Dr. Michiel de Vaan explains how Dutch would have sounded 500, 1,000 and 1,500 years ago in the TV-show Man over woord.

Prof. Leo Lucassen

Leo Lucassen

“By placing migration, integration and urbanisation in a historical perspective, we consider migration as a structural feature of human communities.”

“The master’s specialisation in Migration and Global Interdependence is one of the five research themes of the Department of History. We teach students to think in historical terms about migration, networks and institutions. We place developments in their historical context and compare them both in terms of time and place, using comparative history as an important tool. To what extent does the structure of a city, a region or a country influence integration, for example?

Migration is a very topical subject. Why is migration regarded now, as opposed to at other times, as problematical? On the one hand, the development of the welfare state, which also manifests itself at a local level, plays a role. National governments are struggling with the dilemma that they need migrants for the employment market, but they do not want these migrants to make too much use of the social security provisions.

On the other hand, at the same time since the French Revolution increasing emphasis has been placed on equality in Western Europe. This means that we are less accepting of inequality than previously. It also implies that in statistical terms inequality is made more visible than in the past, whereby newcomers, particularly those who integrate more slowly, are categorised as problematical.

By placing migration, integration and urbanisation in a historical perspective, we consider migration as a structural feature of human communities. This master’s therefore stresses continuities with past experiences, but at the same time shows important breaks with previous periods. In my view that’s very important.”