Discusses the Marxist theoretical bases and research objectives of modern Soviet historiography. Soviet historians concentrate on the historical developments of social organization and the analysis of laws governing progress in human society. The author describes current Soviet historical work on Russian, world, ancient, medieval, modern, and…

Comments on the prevalence of the expression in France, "a foreign french language," used to designate a variety of activities and institutions devoted to the teaching and learning of French outside of France. The article emphasizes that to affirm the existence of a French language that is foreign to France highlights historical…

Describes the combination of circumstances--cultural, political, and educational--in mid-eighteenth century Edinburgh, Scotland, which led to the formation of the Regius Chair of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres. Claims this development reflects the social situation rather than a preconceived design for either the discipline of rhetoric or literature.…

Describes the University of South Carolina's (Columbia) Contemporary European Studies program, which drew on current course offerings and existing financial resources to provide study about post-French Revolution European languages, cultures, politics, history, geography, and economics. Options exist at many other institutions to create broadly…

This annotated bibliography lists 30 United Kingdom government documents published in 1991 that address a wide range of topics, including the environment, history, the military, and economic issues. (MES)

Discusses land use patterns in fifteenth-century Europe and in the Americas and the mutual influence (initiated by Columbus's arrival in the Americas) that led to land use change. Presents a historical perspective and categorization of contemporary global land use changes for the purpose of highlighting associations between past and present global…

Evaluates six U.S. western civilization textbooks' treatment of the Baltic region. Reports that the books devote little or no attention to the region, emphasize larger nations, and ignore Baltic social history. Suggests that social histories may continue to neglect small countries, whereas reaction against "Eurocentrism" may result in…

Discusses the problems of Sephardic Jews, before and after their expulsion from Spain in 1492. Explains that, although some converted to Christianity, they remained targets of discrimination in Spain. Explores the Sephardic influence upon other Jewish communities across the Mediterranean. Describes the Sephardic role in Columbus' voyages. (SG)

Evaluates the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students (ERASMUS) in terms of the historical ideas of the great humanist Erasmus. Presents the goals, achievements, and prospects of the ERASMUS Program, summarizes the main ideas of Erasmus, describes trends in European higher education, and confronts the differences…

Outlines revisionist interpretations of the French Revolution that challenged the dominant historiographical tradition during the 1950s and 1960s. Distinguishes four central characteristics of revisionist works. Identifies a key split in current French Revolution historiography between reflection on nineteenth-century…

Traces the evolution of page design to improve the readability of technical writing to the influence of Peter Ramus, who used bracketed outlines to show the relationships among ideas with larger concepts. Describes how the Ramist method was used by Renaissance English physicians to create medical texts which could be easily understood and…

Describes the philanthropic activities of Lady Elizabeth Hastings and the local provision of rural charity schools in 18th-century England. Covers Hastings' background, her establishment of girls' charity schools, charity-school curricula, the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and charity-school teachers. Evaluates Hastings'…

Contrasts propaganda about language at different periods during the last 150 years in five localities: southern Austria; western Hungary, Karelia, Moldavia, and northwestern Greece. The study comes out of the little-known field of political linguistics. (Author/VWL)

Argues that, contrary to the common view, Galileo and the theologians of the Inquisition share the same fundamental principles of biblical interpretation. Contends that Galileo and these theologians thought that the Bible contained truths about nature, but Galileo denied what the theologians accepted as scientifically true. Contains 93 references.…

Describes efforts by the Newberry Library (Chicago) to obtain original source materials for studying the literature and history of western Europe from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century. Discusses joint acquisitions with higher education institutions; acquisition of rare book collections from religious colleges and seminaries; and…