History of Germany: A Story of National Identity
In this course, students will discover the often ignored history of German speaking people in Central Europe, from their relationship with Rome through their quest for a national identity and beyond.
Melissa Quijano M. Ed.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(533)
What's included
24 live meetings
24 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. I will post a short reading or video with an accompanying discussion question that students are expected to respond to thoughtfully every few weeks. They can respond in writing or through a recorded video. The topics of these could include cultural topics, short primary source documents, or deeper looks into the lives of people in Central Europe. There will be a final project in which students will make a timeline of German history. They will be asked to record 10-15 of the most important events in Germany's history and to justify, either in writing or verbally, why they chose those events as the most important. Students can complete this on paper, via PowerPoint or Google Slides, or in some other digital format; it is completely up to the student. They will present this to the class on the last day. If learners choose to purchase the suggested books, there are pages listed that accompany each class that they may read.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
The purpose of this course is to trace the history of the region today known as Germany, with emphasis on its unique place situated in the center of Europe. This class endeavors to retell and reclaim German history to students who may only know about German history from the perspective of the World Wars and to give it the same treatment as other European countries. Students will trace the unusually long trip to unification of people scattered across Central Europe. This course will also illuminate how Germany became susceptible to fascist ideology and how they recovered from it. This class will be taught through discussion and lecture. We will look at maps, primary documents, and photographs/paintings. Discussion will focus on the 5 W's: Who has historically been considered German? What is Germany's national identity? When was Germany created? Where is Germany? Why is Germany the way it is? These questions are more complicated than you might think given the relatively late unification of Germany and its complicated relationship with their own history due to Hitler's co-opting of many historic signs of German identity, like Barbarossa and Otto von Bismarck. Week 1: Day 1: Geography (of its present borders) Day 2: Linguistics (especially, why do so many country's call Germany so many different things?) Week 2: Day 3: Germanic people in relation to Ancient Rome (Germans as "savages", Germans as Rome's military) Day 4: The Early Holy Roman Empire (Charlemagne, religious origins, and early government organization) Week 3: Day 5: Medieval Germany and the German Mythos Day 6: The Holy Roman Empire; its strengths, its weaknesses Week 4: Day 7: The Beginning of the Modern Era (1500): The beginning of a national identify & the problems Day 8: The Printing Press and the Humanists- problems with this region having a national identity Week 5: Day 9: The Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther and his ideals vs. the reality Day 10: The Counter Reformation Week 6: Day 11: The 30 Years War Day 12: Germany as a Fragmented State Week 7: Day 13: The 7 Year's War Day 14: Life in Kleinstaaterei & the French Revolution Week 8: Day 15: The End of the Holy Roman Empire (and its implications) Day 16: Aufklärung (German Enlightenment) Week 9: Day 17: Unified Germany & The Twilight of European Peace Day 18: World War I from a German POV Week 10: Day 19: The Interwar Years & the Pressure on German National Identity Day 20: WWII from a German POV Week 11: Day 21: Picking up the pieces of a national identity Day 22: A Splintered Nation & The Cold War Week 12: Day 23: German Reunification & present day issues Day 24: Presentation & Closing Discussions This class is suitable for any student interested in European history. Though the topics may look complicated, it is only because the events are less known to us than, for example, US or British history.
Learning Goals
Students will be able to identify Germany on a map.
Students will be able to trace the history of German unification.
Students will be able to identify and discuss key events in Germany's history.
Students will be able to create a timeline of the most important events in Germany's history.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum24 Lessons
over 12 WeeksLesson 1:
Geography (of its present borders)
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Linguistics
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Germanic people in relation to Ancient Rome
60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
The Early Holy Roman Empire
60 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Germany's history, up until the 20th century, is probably a bit less violent than the comparable history of other European countries. This class does include discussion on the Protestant Reformation, with the break up of the church and the branching of the Christian religion, which is taught from a completely secular position. It is important to note that anti-Semitism was fairly commonplace, if not a huge part of Germany's history, before the 20th century.
Of course, the 20th century section of this class, especially WWII, does include discussions of white supremacy, fascism, and genocide.
When we get up to WWI and WWII, we will discuss them from an exclusively German point of view.
Supply List
Optionally, students may want to purchase the reference books I am using for this course: Germany: A New History by Hagen Schulze (1996) and/or Germania: In Wayward Pursuit of Germans and their History by Simon Winder (2010). I will post a syllabus prior to class with reference pages in the classroom that students can read on their own to further the depth of the content if they so choose. If you're choosing, here are some details: Schulze is a clear cut primer of German history. It is a bit dry but has every detail of German history written by a German and translated. It's reliable, chronological, and written traditionally. The Winder book is technically written chronologically but takes many detours to connect things to other things. It's history written like a comedy narrative. Fans of Lemony Snicket will love this book. However, it may be frustrating if you're someone who wants facts without embellishment. Students will create a timeline of German history. Supplies needed are totally optional; students could use paper and markers or any digital application they prefer.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined July, 2019
4.9
533reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from CUNY College of Staten Island
Bachelor's Degree in English from CUNY Brooklyn College
Germany has been something of an obsession of mine since my father was stationed in Kaiserslautern with the US military when I was a child. Ever since, I have been devouring everything I could about Germany and German history. Something interesting I discovered was that the history of Germany since before WWI is rarely talked about and sometimes difficult to obtain information on. While studying at Hunter College, I took a class called "German History and Culture" which shed a lot of light on not only the history of Germany, but the complicated relationship Germans and history scholars have with the nation's history due to much of it's "grander" moments that could form a sense of national pride being co-opted and thus stained by Hitler and his white supremacy. In this class, I hope to give Germany the same treatment that other large European countries, like England or Italy, often get in regards to its history: a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I also took a class called "Early Modern Christianity" in which we studied the Protestant Reformation and its leaders, many of whom were German, extensively.
In addition to studying German culture and history, I have also studied German language formally at Brooklyn College for 1 year and informally for 6 years. I have traveled throughout Germany, from the north to the south. I extensively researched Germany and Turkey's relationships during a History of Turkey class in college as well, which also included research in regards to German attitudes towards immigrants. My Master's in Adolescent Education in Social Studies thesis focused on comparing the education systems of the US and Germany, with some emphasis as to how each country treats its national history. Reviews
Live Group Course
$330
for 24 classes2x per week, 12 weeks
60 min
Completed by 12 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
3-10 learners per class
