LFU:online

Understanding of questions relating to the philosophy of science through reading and discussing suitable classical or innovative texts of historiography resp., knowledge of developments in research and criticism of paradigms. 

Examination of different paradigms and patterns of interpretation in imperial history; deepened knowledge on the basis of recent syntheses

In recent years, “Reich” or “empire” has (again) become a key concept in analysing large-scale political rule, economic exploitation and socio-cultural asymmetries before – and in association with – the nation state. The tutorial first aims at characterising the leading perspectives in this field in the light of approaches of comparative, transnational, transfer and entangled history. Furthermore, the theoretical knowledge will be deepened by examining the methodical and empirical features of recent research on empires in the early modern period and the nineteenth century.

Reading and discussion of theoretical literature and empirical studies; group work; presentations

Regular and active participation; presentations of research positions and case studies

Levine, Philippa/Marriott, John (Ed.), The Ashgate Research Companion to Modern Imperial Histories, Farnham 2012; Wendehorst, Stephan (Ed.), Die Anatomie frühneuzeitlicher Imperien. Herrschaftsmanagement jenseits von Staat und Nation: Institutionen, Personal und Techniken, Berlin u.a. 2015

Positive assessment of compulsory module 1

Online registration necessary!