SOCIAL HISTORY OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY GREECE

General Foundation

1. Social history of modern and contemporary Greece. Theoretical and methodological approaches. 2. Social mobility, women, young people, workers. Diaspora. 3. Social, cultural developments in Greece in the 20th century. 4. Instrumental applications in early childhood education. 4.1. The concept of historic time. Relation to local historic space (ruins, monuments, museums). 4.2. Historic time and its relation to personal experience of space by thematic category (the example of home, school, church, workplace). 5. Documentation of the above with visits and audio-visual and other material. 5.1. Visits to places connected with 19th and 20th century industrial archaeology (spaces of dwelling, civilisation, education, work etc.) in Thessaloniki, Edessa, Kavala, Xanthi. 5.2. Films and documentaries relating to social and cultural parameters of the history of contemprary Greece. 5.3. Interviews (oral testimony) documenting social and cultural events in the history of contemporary Greece.

Social history, an account of social processes and relations, looks into the elements, the structure and the interconnections in human society, its manifestations and their historic continuity, in order to identify the manifold mechanisms of its evolution. It attempts to understand and interpret the course of that evolution through theoretical generalisation and a search for universalities in the succession of episodes in inter-human relations. Selected scientific methods are used to frame systems for assessing the position of the various social factors so as to reveal trends in the historic process. Social history classes propose culture as an analytical category, for it is a significant means of approaching social reality. A cultural approach to social phenomena asserts the notable contribution of the parameter of culture in introducing the student to systems of codes and values. Comprehension of historical facts is sought through a synthesis combining the study of culture with that of the category (economy) considered to be of capital importance in the construction of values, conscience and culture itself. The viewpoint of the course is broadened and enriched as it shifts to a discussion of culture and its parameters. Some of the problems of culture that are explored correspond to manifestations of social groups that share common elements of identity, such as national sentiment. Our investigation of the relation of culture to the movement of nations and other social groups includes the complex bundle of values, convictions, mentalities and practices that form each group’s way of life. Other aspects of culture that are addressed relate to the defence of fundamental human rights. Learning outcomes: Students should gain an understanding of the process obeyed by the science of history and the human and social sciences in general. The perception of history that they will acquire will prove invaluable for understanding social phenomena, will broaden their horizons and will help them cope with complex duties in their future professional careers as regards their particular public (pre-school children), in other paths of early childhood education sciences and in the various related occupations that they may take up.

Society, culture, communication

17-06-2013