IDS 308: THE BAROQUE WORLD

The term “baroque” originated in Europe in the seventeenth century to describe a style of art and architecture that was ornate and extravagant, intricate and exuberant. The style came to characterize that era of history, and this course seeks to capture the baroque essence as it was woven around the globe circa 1650-1750. This was a period of accelerated interaction – both cultural and commercial – between Europeans and other peoples around the world. We will study these encounters in the wider world as well as the ways in which these exchanges changed European society.