History 497A F08
Professor Kathleen Addison
Office Hours: ST 606, M, W 10:30-11:30
And by appt
The Social History of Coffee in Europe
Coffee is not only one of the most valued commodities of your college experience (for most of us), but has a long and significant history in transforming the western world in social, cultural and economic ways. We will explore the transformation of the public sphere and the entrance of coffee into mainstream civilization in the early modern-Modern period of European history, although through various manifestations of European imperialism, this will of course have long-ranging connections to other parts of the world.
Our foundational work is the historiographic classic by Jürgen Habermas , whose ideas of social space and creation of a public milieu significantly changed the way we think about social history. We will examine the works of several scholars regarding the introduction of coffee to Europe and its connections to the rest of the world against a backdrop of Habermas’ thesis, and explore precisely how coffee created this brave, new, caffeinated world. We will supplement these theoretical models against the primary sources of the time, both pro and con – the 1629 decree of King Charles I of England, for example, moved to prohibit this dangerous drug…but why? Many people argued about the effects of coffee for good or ill; and yet one hypothesis argues (not unconvincingly) that when coffee became mainstream, as people switched off the predominant forms of alcohol and began to experience stimulants, voila, we had the Enlightenment.
Our work in this class will be to examine all these issues and trace the development of both social and economic links between coffee and society in Europe, from the English virtuosi exploring this highly unusual and therefore “trendy” experience, to the filtering down (so to speak) to the working classes in the Industrial Revolution. We will examine the effects in the development of the Coffee House as a now-acceptable meeting place for “respectable” society in lieu of taverns and bars. We will explore the European influences and economic interrelationships with areas producing the Bean, and how this transformed European trade.
At the end of this class, you will present a 20 page paper of original research on a topic of your choice related to the themes discussed in this class. It will conform to Chicago Manual of Style format, with footnotes and bibliography, and incorporate significant use of primary sources to advance your argument. This paper will be submitted to me on the last day of class both in hard copy and via the website http://www.turnitin.com . NB: Plagiarism of any kind will be dealt with in the appropriate fashion: a visit to the Dean, an automatic F for the class, up to possible suspension. Please note also that an F in this class for plagiarism will not only be on your transcript, but will NOT be subject to retaking the class at any 497 level; this means that you will not be able to graduate as a history major.
All unpleasantness (but necessary legal stipulations) aside, I hope to enjoy this class and explore these ideas with you in a predominantly verbal interchange. The discussion component of this class represents 20% of your overall grade, the remaining 80% coming from the quality of your research paper. We will meet for a period of time to discuss the books and ideas, and then you will adjourn to do your research and paper. You should begin to formulate your thesis in the next week and present it to me with a preliminary bibliography at the end of week 2.
READINGS (IN ORDER)
1. Habermas (pdf on website http://www.csun.edu/~kaddison/497su08.htm
2. Stuart Lee Allen, The Devil’s Cup. A general travelogue and history.
3. Brian Cowan, Social History of Coffee
4. Antony Wild, Coffee: A Dark History
5. Mark Pendergrast, Uncommon Grounds
6. Primary sources online
All of these are available at the Bookstore, and most can be had more inexpensively through Amazon.com or various online sources. Some are available at the library.
Schedule of Classes:
8/27 Introduction, procedures. Get started on reading Habermas, Allen and Cowan
9/3 Discussion of Habermas and Allen.
9/10 Discussion of online primary sources (hopefully including “Six Glasses”)
9/17 Discussion of Cowan
9/24 Individual meetings to discuss paper and project; have prelim thesis and biblio in hand
10/1 Library Day: Submit via email a preliminary outline of your paper, approx 3 pages, by Saturday August 2, noon.
10/8 Discussion of Wild
10/15 Discussion of Pendergrast
10/22 Discussion of Sources, consultations.
Adjourn to work on papers. Consultations as needed by appointment.
12/10 Turn in final paper in hard copy and turnitin.com