After two minutes in an introductory course on Early Modern History I knew: this is the historical period I want to dive into. This was during my first year in the Bachelor History at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. And after having finished the Bachelor Programme last year, I did what I wanted to do since that very first beginning: engaging in research regarding the early modern period. That chance was given to me by the two-year Research Master Early Modern Intellectual History.

During the first year of the Master I spent much energy in mastering the Latin language – indispensable for students of the early modern period. The multi-disciplined approach of the Research Master (cooperation between the three faculties of History, Culture and Communication, Law and Philosophy) is incredibly beneficial for the understanding of the period. For my Master thesis, I am able to build upon the research I did for my Bachelor thesis. I’m dealing with sixteenth century European imaging of the “Ottoman enemy”.

Next year, I’m planning to go to Oxford. Studying abroad can be very valuable in your academic development and the programme grants you the possibility to pursue this end. The various courses I’ve followed until now have taught me more about that period than any course in the Bachelor ever could. They dealt with the history of political thought, the early modern reception of Roman Law and the importance of philosophy in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. I have been able to expand the research I did for my Bachelor while following these courses. It is a demanding programme, so you must be interested in the period and dedicated to the field of research. For a chance in academic research in this field though, it is essential to gain the knowledge and skills this programme provides.

“The multi-disciplined approach is incredibly beneficial for the understanding of the period.”