This course surveys the Jewish historical experience in the modern period (1750-the present).  This is the general time frame through which scholars study the modern Jewish experience although it is not definitive since modern trends can be found in earlier times as well.  We will follow the general consensus about chronology in this class by considering how new political transformations in the 18th century, in particular the emergence of absolutist state forms and the period in which emancipation was debated by Jews and Christians in society and historical discourse.  Throughout this section of the class, we read from copious primary source documents citing reasons for and against granting Jewish privilege, and the debate surrounding what was referred to at the time as “the Jewish Question,” that is to say, the public discussion over whether to give Jews equal rights as citizens.