In accordance with the provisions of the one time credit system, the department was responsible for offering early modern Hungarian history (1526-1790) courses as well as European history courses (1492-1789) for two terms within the framework of lectures, seminar classes, and specialist courses. Since its foundation, teaching activities of the department have been involved in the overall history training of three levels. Museological, educational history, and auxiliary history courses are generally integrated as introductory subjects at BA level training done by Zsigmond Csoma, József Dusnoki, and Zsombor Nagy. BA level seminar classes and lectures are offered by György Kurucz, József Dusnoki and Sándor Papp on early modern Hungarian and European history, including József Dusnoki’s and György Kurucz’s specialist courses on early modern Protestant church and educational history. Sándor Papp is in charge of seminar classes and lectures specifically on political systems and military history, whereas Zsombor Nagy offers environment and social history classes.

The department is also involved in both MA level disciplinary and teacher training. György Kurucz offers lectures and seminar classes on Protestant church and educational history for  future history teachers, including social and economic history courses in collaboration with József Dusnoki. György Kurucz is a member of the Doctoral School of the Institute of History and offers courses focusingon sources of early modern Hungarian, English, and German social and economic history. Two specialist research groups comprising staff members carry out projects aimed at identifying and analysing the Protestant cultural heritage of  Hungary’s and Transylvania’s past.

Head of Department
Associate Professor György Kurucz, CSc, Habil

Staff
Research Professor Zsigmond Csoma, DSc
Associate Professor Sándor Papp, PhD, Habil
Senior Lecturer József Dusnoki, PhD
Associate Professor Zsombor Nagy, PhD
Assistant Lecturer Márta Mészáros 

Study Programmes 
Training according to the one time credit system
BA level
MA level
Supplementary training



Subjects

Early modern Hungarian history, 1526-1790 

Lectures on early modern Hungarian history cover the most important social, political, and military history events and phenomena of the era beginning with the Battle of Mohács in 1526, upto the end of the eighteenth century. The consequences of the break-up of the formerly united Kingdom of Hungary into three parts and their unique administrative development are dealt with at length with a view to give a comprehensive insight into the influence of Ottoman rule in Hungary. Also, the issues of governance and monarchy are highlighted in the overall political, social, and economic development of the country within the Habsburg Empire throughout the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Students are required to take an oral exam.

Seminar classes tend to follow the main issues notedabove, but special emphasis is laid on both the group and the individual work of students on the basis of a select literature. Each student is required to give a talk, hand in a seminar paper, and write an end of term test.


Early modern European history, 1492–1815

Over the course of two terms, lectures are meant to give insight into the wider aspects of Europe’s history from the era of the great geographical discoveries, to the conclusion of the Peace Treaty of Westphaliaand its aftermath, and up to the end of the French wars. Seminar classes deal with the regional, demographic, economic, political, and international issues and phenomena of Europe’s development in the period concerned. Students are required to hand in seminar papers, give talks, and write an end of term test.


Political systems: the Islamic world – specialist course

A BA-level lecture provides insight into the early period of theevolution of the Muslim faith, including the life of Mohamed and the basics of his teachings. The legal status as well as the historical background of non-muslim communities underIslamic rule is also dealt with. In addition, an overall perspective on Muslim political thinking from the age of the Caliphate to the period of the Ottoman Empire is offered. This enables us to have a better undersanding of the life of Hungarian communities under Turkish rule as well as of the making of vassal states, including the Principality of Transylvania and Orta Madzsar.


Political systems: the Islamic world – specialist course

BA-level seminar classes are intended to elucidate the uniquness of classical Muslim culture, including its influence on contemporary Hungarian life. Nevertheless, students are also given the chance to obtain a more profound knowledge of the evolvement of Islam as well as of its basic teachings. On the one hand, students can have an overall impression of the characteristics of Islamic art, building, miniatures, and calligraphy. On the other hand, Hungary’s legacy of Islamic culture is also dealt with as far as arts, spirituality, and cultural heritage are concerned.


Military and Arms History: Army and Society in Medieval and Early Modern Period – specialist course

BA-level lectures are primarily dedicated to the most important events and issues of Central Europe’s medieval and early modern military history. To begin, special emphasis is given to the different aspects of Ottoman-Hungarian military conflicts, including their diplomatic background, from the onslaught of King Louis I of Hungary at Vidin in 1366 throughout the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries right to the waning of Ottoman rule in Hungary. Seminar classes are based on a select literature and comprehensive analysis of contemporary sources, thereby elucidating the unique features of war and society in the Kingdom of Hungary. Military reforms and the integration of the Kingdom of Hungary into the Habsburg Empire after the period of the anti-Habsburg war of independence led by Prince Rákóczi andthe ensuing dynastic wars of the Habsburg rulers right up to late eighteenth century French wars are also covered. Students will become  familiar with contemporary weapons and arms at specialist seminar classes held at the collections of the Museum of Hungarian Military History.