Universität Wien
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070088 UE Guided Reading Global History (2026S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 7 - Geschichte
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

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: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 06.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 13.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 20.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 27.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 17.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 24.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 08.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 15.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 22.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 29.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 05.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 12.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 19.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Friday 26.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum 8, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Money, Merchants and Mongols. Aspects of Economic Exchange in the “Globalization of Marco Polo”, 1200-1400 CE

760 years after his arrival at the court of the Mongol Great Khan in 1266, the Venetian Marco Polo is still celebrated as the most famous and audacious world traveler of the Middle Ages. Yet his journey was only one among many within and between the commercial spheres of the Mediterranean and Mongol Eurasia. Based on historiographies and documents, coins and other forms of money, commodities and precious objects as well as archaeological and natural scientific data, the course introduces into the study of the early “world economy”. Both the perspectives of the medieval people engaged in these exchanges as well as modern theories on globalization and economic (dis)integration will be explored. Furthermore, the course serves as training in science communication to a wider audience, focusing on an exhibition project about money and trade in late medieval Eurasia, which will accompany the 25th International Congress of Byzantine Studies in Vienna in August 2026 (see https://www.icbs2026.org/). Part of this exhibition will be the private coin collection of Samuel Cowell (doctoral student), who will contribute to the preparation of the project and teaching – thus connecting the global historical readings with tangible objects. As part of the course, Dr. Ekaterini Mitsiou will also speak about the findings of the FWF project "Entangled Charters of Anatolia (1200-1300, ENCHANT)." Attention will also be paid to the critical use of AI tools for data collection, research and presentation purposes.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students are expected to come to class every week. In addition to regular reading assignments and short exercises, students will prepare an oral presentation and a poster or other medium of communicating science to a wider public, which may become part of the above-mentioned exhibition on money and trade in Late Medieval Eurasia accompanying the 25th International Congress of Byzantine Studies in Vienna in August 2026 (see https://www.icbs2026.org/). Working together in small groups is encouraged, but individual presentations and posters will also be accepted.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Out of all classes, two can be missed by the participants. Grading will be based on regular participation and small assignments (35 %), the oral presentation (25 %) and the poster resp. medium of communicating science (40 %), of which a first draft has to been submitted by mid-semester and will be discussed among the participants as part of the regular assignments.

Examination topics

There will be no final exam, grades will be based on the assignments, presentation and poster/medium mentioned above.

Reading list

(texts for reading will be distributed via moodle throughout the course):
J. Abu-Lughod, Before European hegemony. The world system A.D. 1250–1350. New York 1989.
H. Barker, That Most Precious Merchandise: The Mediterranean Trade in Black Sea Slaves, 1260-1500. Philadelphia 2019.
Ch. Baumer, The History of Central Asia: The Age of Islam and the Mongols. London 2016.
B. M. S. Campbell, The Great Transition: Climate, Disease and Society in the Late Medieval World. Cambridge 2016.
J. W. Chaffee, The Muslim Merchants of Premodern China: The History of a Maritime Asian Trade Diaspora, 750–1400. Cambridge 2018.
M. Favereau, The Horde - How the Mongols Changed the World. Harvard 2021.
F.-X. Fauvelle, The Golden Rhinoceros: Histories of the African Middle Ages. Princeton 2018.
R. Harris, Going the Distance: Eurasian Trade and the Rise of the Business Corporation, 1400-1700. Princeton 2020.
St. G. Haw, Marco Polo's China: A Venetian in the Realm of Khubilai Khan. Abingdon 2006.
C. Holmes/N. Standen (eds.), The Global Middle Ages (Past & Present, Volume 238). Oxford 2018.
A. Laiou/C. Morrisson, The Byzantine Economy. Cambridge 2010.
Ch. Lamouroux, La Dynastie des Song: Histoire Generale de la Chine (960-1279). Paris 2022.
Pegolotti, Banker in der Unterwelt: Podcast (Pragmaticus, with J. Preiser-Kapeller, 15 July 2025): https://www.derpragmaticus.com/r/pegolotti-klima
R. Prazniak, Sudden Appearances: The Mongol Turn in Commerce, Belief, and Art. Honolulu 2019.
P. Spufford, Money and its Use in Medieval Europe. Cambridge 2008.
R. von Glahn, Fountain of Fortune: Money and Monetary Policy in China, 1000 – 1700. Berkeley 1996.
Ch. Wickham, The Donkey and the Boat: Reinterpreting the Mediterranean Economy, 950-1180. Oxford 2023.

Association in the course directory

BA Geschichte (Version 2019): PM5 Vertiefung, UE Guided Reading (5 ECTS).
EC Historische EAR im Überblick (Version 2021): APM M1b Aspekte und Räume, UE Guided Reading zu einem Aspekt/Raum (5 ECTS).

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:26