The course will explore how this great multi-national empire fell into decline before being destroyed by the First World War. It will focus on key individuals like Emperor Franz Joseph (arguably the most unlucky ruler in modern history) and his tragic wife Elizabeth, and their relationship with the many racial minorities in the Empire. And the series of catastrophic military defeats in the 1850s and 60s which led to the setting up of the so called Dual Monarchy of Austria- Hungary. Finally the course will look at the cultural richness of the Empire, from Strauss to Kafka and Freud. Reading: M. Rady 'The Habsburgs. The Rise and Fall of a Great Power'. A .Palmer 'Twilight of the Habsburgs'. 'Fall of Eagles' BBCTV