LFU:online

Introduction to the basic principles of academic research; independent development of research questions and exploration of new themes; confidence when presenting the results; practice in writing an academic paper; basic knowledge of the agricultural and economic development and „mise en valeur“ of colonial territories

Throughout the age of European colonialism, all colonial powers tried to make their extra-European territories economically and financially profitable. In many cases this led to the emergence of an agricultural economy based on the production of so called “cash crops”. The export-oriented cultivation of such crops in (post)colonial territories co-shaped the sociocultural conditions in the colonies and connected them to a wider colonial/global market. In this course, we will examine the relationship between global markets and local production on the basis of case studies from the entire spectrum of European colonialism.

Preparation of a suitable topic by participant; presentation in the course; group discussion

Attendance, active contribution, oral presentation and written paper

W. Arthur Lewis (Hg.). Tropical Development 1880-1913. Evanston: Northwestern University Press 1970. Roland Wenzlhuemer. From Coffee to Tea Cultivation in Ceylon, 1880-1900. Leiden: Brill 2008.