History

More people live in cities now than in any other point in history: how does this change human culture and civilizations? Cities tell a story of our world; they are a testament to humankind’s ability to reshape the environment in lasting ways. They reveal how we interact with the environment and with each other. Cities are created in many forms and for many reasons ranging from defense, religion and economic activity. Through case studies this course examines urban history, lived experiences, and how city life has changed over time.

This course looks at key moments in the history of globalization over the ‘"long" 20th century. Approaching globalization as a contested and malleable project, students move from the "first" high age of globalization and empire in the late 19th century, through the reconfiguration of the world system in the wake of the Great Depression and the World Wars, to the era of decolonization and neoliberal globalization in the latter part of the century. Students reflect together on how capitalism, internationalism, empire, immigration, race, the environment, and human rights came to shape the contemporary world.

In the aftermath of World War I, the global map underwent significant alterations with the collapse of great empires. The Austro-Hungarian (Habsburg), Russian, Ottoman, and German empires disintegrated, reshaping the geopolitics of Europe and, by extension, the world. This collapse not only redrew borders but also catalyzed national movements, sowed seeds of new conflicts, and heralded a new era of nation-states. 

Significantly, in the backdrop of these monumental changes, the USSR emerged not just as a successor but as a reincarnation of the Russian Empire in its approach to its peripheries. The Soviet Union continued many of the policies, especially towards the “borderlands,” a crucial aspect to understand when examining the historical trajectories of Ukraine and Russia. 

With a focus on the geopolitical significance of Ukraine, situated between Central Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, this course uncovers the historical roots of modern conflicts, notably the Russian-Ukrainian War.

This course explores the films made during, in between, and immediately after the two world wars. Specifically, it discusses how film can be used as a tool to better understand the wars, and how they were viewed, refuted, or supported by people at that time. It explores what is propaganda and how it is manifested in different ways. Specifically this course concerns the world wars in Europe. 

This course is divided into two parts: the Cold War period and the Global Age. Part one focuses on international conflicts related to the Cold War and its effects. Part two focuses on globalization, international relations, and global risks.  

This course examines east central and southeastern European history from the twilight of nineteenth-century imperialism to the most recent expansion of the European Union. Consideration will be given to the two world wars and their consequences; nationalism, fascism, and socialism; and the revolutions of 1989.

This course examines the history of the Cold War. Special attention will be paid to the different viewpoints and experiences of the Cold War participants by studying the historiography and archival materials released in the Eastern Block and Western World.

The course starts with a discussion of Roman Law. The so-called Corpus Iuris Civilis will be used as the point of departure since most of what we know about Roman Law derives from this compilation of legal materials that was made in the 6th century AD on the orders of the Byzantine emperor Justinian. While Roman law was adapted to cope with the changing society, the idea was maintained that it was essentially the same law that had been part of the early Roman way of life. The course also concentrates on the different approaches to the law that existed and still exist in Anglo-American jurisdictions. It explains the legal differences today between continental Europe and the British Isles. Additionally, some elements of American legal history are studied. The course will conclude with a study of a selection of similarities and differences that exist in today’s European legal landscape.

This course studies the history of the 20th century global movement before World War II, which influenced global politics. Students are expected to examine a historical case of a local movement crossing over to global politics. 
 

After its total defeat in World War II, a divided Germany developed differing forms of socio-political organizations in an attempt to find a sustainable response to the challenges posed by modern industrial society. While the East experimented with state socialism, the West implemented a liberal democracy. Yet despite their political division, the two German states remained deeply interconnected through economic linkages, a shared cultural heritage, and similar ambitions to redefine their nationhood and global position. This course explores their special relationship against the backdrop of the global Cold War. Topics include political consolidation, East and West European integration, consumption and identity, the role of the cultural institutions, social movements and dissent, immigration and ethnic diversity, holocaust memory and foreign policy, the collapse of communism and reunification. It engages critically with the attempts of both German states to deal with their problematic history, and the way history was used to legitimize the different regimes.