The modern world began around 1500, with the spread of Renaissance humanistic ideas throughout Europe facilitated by the creation the movable type printing press. The medieval Roman Church had been the center of European politics and culture, but it’s authority was fractured by the emerging Protestant Reformation. We will examine the significant religious and political personalities, their ideas, and the social and political events that contributed to the transformation of Europe. This is a cooperative class sponsored by OLLI at Eckerd and OLLI at USF that will include students from both groups.
The instructor, Joseph R. McAuliffe, MA History Bowling Green State University, is Manager of Educational Programming at OLLI-USF and adjunct faculty in American History at USF and European History at Hillsborough Community College.