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Global History: Approaches, Themes & Debates
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:21:44
Abstract
This seminar introduces the students to one of the most vibrant new sub-fields of historical inquiry, namely global history (GH). In the session precursors to GH approaches are discussed, the field's stellar expansion since the 1990s is put under scrutiny and the most recent trends and themes are being explored.
Objective
The history of knowledge and the history of science have suffered for decades from a predominance of western perspectives. Through the course, students of the MAGPW are made familiar with global historical approaches that might help them widen the the spatial and cultural premises that structure most of the work in their chosen field and make global approaches fruitful for their own work.
Content
This seminar introduces the students to one of the most vibrant new sub-fields of historical inquiry: global history. In the session precursors to global history are discussed, its development since the 1990s is put under scrutiny and the most recent trends and themes are explored. The range of topics is wide: the work of early 'world historians' such as Marx; Oswald Spengler and Arnold Toynbee is being discussed as are the more recent trends such as global intellectual history or the history of the anthropocene is put under scrutiny. Participants will not only be made familiar with key texts of the secondary literature, but also have an opportunity to practice work with primary soure materials of various kinds.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | Global History: Approaches, Themes & Debates |
|
2 h weekly |