Universität Wien

070040 SE Seminar - Historical Disaster Studies - A Global Perspective (2025W)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 7 - Geschichte
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Mo 17.11. 13:15-15:15 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 06.10. 13:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1
  • Monday 13.10. 13:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1
  • Monday 20.10. 13:15 - 15:15 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1
  • Monday 03.11. 13:15 - 15:15 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1
  • Monday 10.11. 13:15 - 15:15 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1
  • Monday 24.11. 13:15 - 15:15 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1
  • Monday 01.12. 14:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1
  • Monday 15.12. 14:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum 2, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 1090 Wien, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this seminar, we will study how societies have dealt with disasters over the past two centuries, with a particular emphasis on disasters that occurred in contemporary history. Our primary focus will be on disasters triggered by hydrological, tectonic, or biophysical hazards, such as droughts, floods, infectious diseases, or earthquakes. While the term "natural disasters" is commonly used, disaster scholars generally reject this term, emphasizing that no disaster is purely a "natural event." Every disaster unfolds within specific social, economic, cultural, and political contexts, which ultimately determine its impact. Today, most scholars agree that the true cause of disasters lies in the vulnerability of societies.

We will use past disasters to test hypotheses that remain relevant today. What makes certain groups of people particularly vulnerable to disasters? What are the possible short- and long-term effects of disasters? What types of public and private responses help mitigate their impact? Why do some societies recover more quickly from disasters than others?

Throughout the seminar, I will introduce you to a variety of primary sources relevant to the analysis of historical disasters, including both quantitative and qualitative materials. Some of these sources include data typically used in the natural sciences, such as meteorological records.

The first part of the seminar will provide a thorough introduction to disaster studies, using the monograph Disasters and History (2020) by Bas van Bavel et al. as our foundational text. We will discuss key concepts, materials, and methods used in this field. During this phase, students will gain an overview of disaster preconditions, responses, and effects. From weeks 4 to 8, we will explore different types of hazards, each introduced by a chapter from Smith and Patley's Environmental Hazards (2009). These sessions will be complemented by specific case studies. In week 9, students are required to submit a research proposal, which will serve as the first major step toward their seminar paper.

Preliminary schedule: *

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: Concepts, Materials and Methods
Van Bavel et. al, Disasters and History (2020), Ch. 1-3.

Week 3: Preconditions, Pressures and Responses
Van Bavel et. al, Disasters and History (2020), Ch. 4-5.

Week 4: Hydrological Hazards: Droughts
Overview: Smith and Patley, Environmental Hazards (2009), Ch. 12.
Specifics: De Waal, "The End of Famine?" (2018)

Week 5: Severe Storm Hazards
Smith and Patley, Environmental Hazards (2009), Ch. 9
Oliver-Smith and Hoffmann (eds), The Angry Earth (2020), Ch. 8.

Week 6: Biophysical Hazards: Infectious Diseases
Smith and Patley, Environmental Hazards (2009), Ch. 10.
Davis, The Monster Enters (2021).

Week 7: Tectonic Hazards: Tsunamis
Smith and Patley, Environmental Hazards (2009), Ch. 7.
TBA

Week 8: Context Hazards: Climate Crisis
Smith and Patley, Environmental Hazards (2009), Ch. 14.
Gosh, The Great Derangement (2016).

Week 9: Discussion of your proposals

Week 10: Presentations I

Week 11: Presentations II

* The schedule is provisional and may be adjusted as needed. Students will be informed of any changes in a timely manner

Assessment and permitted materials

Reading: Read the assigned texts provided for each session.

Writing: Post two short reading responses in the forum on Moodle.

Presentation I: Present one of the assigned readings in class (possibly in groups).

Presentation II: Present the draft of your seminar paper during one of the final sessions of the seminar.

Seminar Paper: Write a seminar paper (15-20 pages). You may write the paper in English, German, or Spanish. Submit a draft of the paper (minimum 5 pages) at least two days before your presentation. The final paper is due by 28 February 2026.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

You can miss class max. 2 times.

// Grading:
1) Active participation in classroom // 10%
2) Reading Responses // 20%
3) Presentations // 20%
4) Final Seminar paper, 15 pages // 50%

>= 87,5% very good (1)
>= 75% good (2)
>= 62,5% satisfactory (3)
>= 50% sufficient (4)
< 50% deficient (5)

Examination topics

This is a seminar. There’s no exam.

Reading list

Bas van Bavel et al., Disasters and History. The Vulnerability and Resilience of Past Societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020.

Keith Smith and David N. Petley, Environmental Hazards. Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster. London and New York: Routledge, 2008.

Association in the course directory

EAR: Globalgeschichte, Zeitgeschichte.
MEd UF GP (Version 2015): UF MA GP 01 Fachwissenschaft , SE Vertiefungsseminar 1: Quellenkunde und Quellenkritik (6 ECTS).
MA Geschichte (Version 2019): PM4 Individuelle Schwerpunktsetzung, SE Seminar aus Geschichte (8 ECTS).
MA Globalgeschichte und Global Studies (Version 2019): SE Vertiefung 2: Themen der Globalgeschichte oder der Global Studies (8 ECTS), Modul PM3/2 - ODER AUSNAHMSWEISE - SE Vertiefung 1: Weltregionen aus Sicht der Globalgeschichte oder der Global Studies (8 ECTS), Modul PM3/1.
IDMA Zeitgeschichte und Medien (Version 2019): M4a SE Seminar zu Zeitgeschichte und Medien, SE Seminar aus Zeitgeschichte (8 ECTS) / M4b Wahlbereich - Spezialthemen zu Zeitgeschichte und Medien II, SE Seminar (8 ECTS, Bereich Zeitgeschichte).

Last modified: Fr 17.10.2025 15:46