History

This course examines Postcolonial Studies in dialogue with local voices of critique across fields and disciplines to reexamine (post)colonial experiences of Hong Kong and their legacy and imprints expressed in cultural, literary, cinematic, historical texts. By unpacking the anomality of the case of Hong Kong and organizing local critical scholarship on cultural production, this course also seeks to “reconfigure postcolonial discourse as a critical mode of imagination in a world altered now by global capitalism”.

This course examines the political, cultural, and economic situation of the Jewish community in the 19th and 20th centuries.  Students analyze various forms of Jewish cultural and political identity. Students develop a better understanding of the context that led to the Holocaust and its dramatic consequences. Lastly, students familiarize themselves with the most important Jewish political writers.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale program. The course is intended for advanced level students only. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. The course focuses on research problems in a wide series of topics drawn from migration history, history of ideas and their circulation, material exchange and consumption patterns, global labor history, social protests, transnational mobilizations processes, power forms and resistance strategies. Through direct contact with specific research paths, students are able to apply research techniques and methodologies and to use sources and literature in a critical manner. The first part of the course focuses on theoretical and methodological aspects concerning a world-historical approach to European contemporary history: how to study Europe and contemporary European history with reference to analytical frames drawing on World history. The second part of the courses focuses on European migration history from a global perspective. Particular attention is devoted to different forms of migration in relation to the social and political impact exerted on the societies involved. The topic is presented through case studies of anarchist migration between the second half of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century that students are asked to present in class. The third and last part of the course focuses on decolonization, related social conflicts/movements and its impact on the European political sphere from the 1960s until the 1980s. How antiimperialist and anticolonial criticism addressed Europe and how European left-wing groups and parties reacted to the rising challenges. This topic is illustrated and discussed through case studies presented by the students. Readings are presented either individually or in small groups of students on a weekly basis accordingly to the syllabus.

The undergraduate research program places students in research opportunites to conduct indpendent research under the supervision of a Chinese University of Hong Kong faculty. Students are expected to spend approximately 15 to 20 hours per week in independent research as well as attend lectures and labs.

This course examines the Jewish experience in the Czech Lands and the other countries of Central Europe. It touches upon the history of Jews in Russia, in addition to Central Europe, since Russia shares some commonalities with the history of Jews in Poland and the Czech Lands. The History of Jews in Central Europe is not only a story of prejudice and contempt, but also a story of hope and suffering which culminates in the worst tragedy of the Jewish people in history, the Holocaust. However, the issue of the Holocaust is not principal in this course. This course provides students with insights into the most flourishing center of Jewish life of Prague and Central Europe, exploring its many different facets. Although the course presents some Jewish philosophical ideas and practices, it is not primarily a course in the Jewish Religion.

This seminar addresses how specific historical events are commemorated in Southeast Asia and beyond (China, Japan, Korea). Students learn how historical memory is shaped by textbooks, museums, memorial sites, and debated in film, television and other forms of cultural production. This courses offers a n overview of the country's history at the beginning of each session.

This course studies the major political and social transformations that have affected China, Japan and Korea from the 19th century and the present day. The survey begins with an overview of these societies respective histories prior to 1800, and then shifts to looking at the impact of western imperialism on east Asia. The class then examines Japanese imperialism, and cultural interactions between Asia and Europe/North America, WWII, and the emergence of east Asian economic and political influence up to the 1980s.

This course aims to provide an overview of western history, and some aspects of Middle Eastern history, from late antiquity to the 15th century. This includes an exploration of key political, economic, social, and religious events and developments. Examples include the evolution of the Roman Empire and its transition into the various empires and areas that eventually came to replace it in the West. Attention is also paid to the existing debate about the medieval period as a so-called "dark age." The birth of Christianity was another crucial development that shaped European history. Key events in later centuries include the establishment of universities, vast economic expansion, formation of the cultural landscape, trade expeditions, voyages of discovery, demographic growth, and the urbanization of large parts of Europe. Other important issues include constitutional developments ranging from the emergence of State Assemblies and gradual expansion of the powers held by kings and other rulers, to revolts and wars. Crucial religious and cultural developments include the major Councils, the Gregorian reforms, the Investiture Conflict and the Renaissance of the 12th century. This overview serves as a basis for the discussion of various themes. The course includes a visit to the special collection of the university library at the Uithof, where several manuscripts are shown.

This course studies the history of Britain from the mid-19th century through to 1945, with a focus on broadly defined political history. The course considers the impact of ideological, sexual, demographic, social, cultural, and economic change on the political process and policy-making in Britain. Students examine more conventional issues such as constitutional reform and party politics. Students also focus on aspects of social and economic history as well as some intellectual and cultural history. This option comprises the spring term of the yearlong course Politics & Society in Modern Britain, 1780-1945.