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Accessibility statement
Qualification dates
StartEnd
03 Oct 2026Jun 2027
30 Jan 2027Sept 2027
What makes a revolution? Why does the world suddenly change, and what are the consequences? In this module, you'll examine four periods of swift and radical change: the Reformation, the French Revolution, the aftermath of World War I, and the 1960s. You’ll look at each from the perspectives of History, Music, Philosophy and Religious Studies, discovering how these disciplinary approaches complement each other and enhance your understanding of continuity and change. In the final part, you'll return to the discipline that most interests you and study a topic or period in greater depth.
Revolutions looks at modern societies during moments of seismic change. It asks why revolutions happen, what it was like to live through them, and what their consequences were. In doing so, it helps you to understand how different aspects of the modern world were formed.
Over the course of the module, you'll study four key points in the modern world when everything seemed to change. Each of these periods will be examined through the perspectives of four different subject areas, History, Music, Philosophy and Religious Studies, which will help you understand how these disciplines both differ from and complement one another in their approach to ideas, events and people. You'll then have the chance to research a particular revolutionary topic or period in more depth, using the tools and techniques of the discipline you intend to specialise in or study next.
This module is divided into five blocks:
Reformation and Print

In this first block, you’ll be introduced to the module’s four disciplinary approaches through two major and interconnected developments from the early modern period: the Protestant Reformation and the invention of printing. The Reformation shattered the unity of the medieval Catholic church and led to centuries of conflict as well as far-reaching changes in religion, society and culture. At the same time, the rise of printing (often called the print revolution) made knowledge, ideas, opinions and even music available to both rich and poor on a scale previously unimaginable. You'll consider how those fundamental changes to both technologies and ways of thinking altered Europe – and beyond – in ways that still reverberate today.
The French Revolution

In Block 2, you'll look at the event which created the modern concept of a revolution: the French Revolution. In this period, French society was comprehensively remodelled, whilst the overthrow of the French monarchy sent shockwaves across Europe. You'll learn about how the idealism and the violence of the revolutionary period were experienced by ordinary people. You'll also look at the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, which lay behind many of the revolutionaries’ ideals. The block also considers the impact of the revolution on the life and the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and on the radical new ideas about the nature of religion found in the writings of Auguste Comte and Henri Saint-Simon.
Revolutions and the First World War

In this third block, you'll learn about the turmoil created by the most destructive conflict the world had ever seen, including social crisis, political radicalism, and the collapse of European empires. The block considers the revolutions in Russia in 1917 and Germany in 1918. You'll also look at the philosophy of Karl Marx, Rosa Luxemburg and Vladimir Lenin, whose ideas lay behind these revolutions, and explore the music of Igor Stravinsky to see how the dramatic events of these post-war years affected his compositions. Finally, you'll look at the role of religion in the revolutionary changes that occurred in Ireland in the aftermath of the First World War.
The 1960s

This block looks at a different kind of revolution, focusing on the social and cultural changes of the 1960s in Europe and the USA, examining these in a much wider global context in an age of satellites and television. This was a period in which many aspects of contemporary life were challenged. You will explore themes such as the Civil Rights Movement in the USA and the rise of youth culture and hippies. You'll also learn about the rise of female pop and soul stars and the implications of that development for women’s rights more broadly. In addition, you'll examine the philosophy of existentialism and its links with the student protests of 1968, and you will consider how far the 1960s saw the rise of secular society or the birth of new forms of religion that challenged established beliefs.
Independent Project

In this final eight-week block, you'll choose a single discipline to focus on as you work towards an extended essay on a question of your choice. This gives you the chance to specialise in History, Music, Philosophy or Religious Studies, deepening your knowledge and skills within that discipline. You'll have considerable freedom in how you approach the essay and will begin to do some of your own independent research as you work towards it. This process will help to prepare you for the next step in your learning journey, moving on to OU level 2.
OU level 1 modules provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning to help you progress to modules at OU level 2. This module builds on the skills and understandings of relevant arts and humanities subjects developed through the study of Discovering the arts and humanities (A111). We strongly advise you to take A111 first unless you have already completed The arts past and present (AA100), now discontinued.
Successful completion of this module will equip you for more specialised OU level 2 arts and humanities modules. This module focuses on the subject areas of History, Music, Philosophy and Religious Studies and may, therefore, be of particular relevance if you intend to study any of these subjects at OU level 2 or beyond.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
The module is presented through a blend of printed and online material. You’ll be provided with three printed module books and have access to a module website, which includes:
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying A113 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
Revolutions starts twice a year – in February and October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026 and February 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in February 2029.
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