A contemporary German print depicting the beheading of Charles I in 1649. (Image taken from Wikipedia.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Diana Henderson
Prof. Janet Sonenberg
MIT Course Number
21L.703 / 21M.714
As Taught In
Spring 2005
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course explores the creation (and creativity) of the modern scientific and cultural world through study of western Europe in the 17th century, the age of Descartes and Newton, Shakespeare, Rembrandt and Molière. The class compares period thinking to present-day debates about the scientific method, art, religion, and society. This team-taught, interdisciplinary subject draws on a wide range of literary, dramatic, historical, and scientific texts and images, and involves theatrical experimentation as well as reading, writing, researching and conversing.
Other Versions
Other OCW Versions
OCW has published multiple versions of this subject. 