070013 VO Introduction to Global History and Global Studies (2024W)

How to write global history in 2024? This lecture will provide an introduction into central topics and themes of global history by introducing different narratives of global history and how they are constructed. It does so through a closer look at specific subfields of global history that have been especially prominent in recent years (such migration, capitalism, development, or communication), at specific epochs (such as the Middle Ages) and at specific regions or regional concepts and their place in global history (such as Africa or Asia).

This lecture is also an opportunity for the EMGS students to get to know members of the faculty teaching Global History in Vienna. Parts of lecture will be taught by the main lecturer who introduces global history narratives from universal histories and world system theories to latest attempts to tell global history. This overview is complemented by contributions of Viennese colleagues who introduce and intervene into specific narratives of the global.

While this is a lecture class, during and at the end of each lecture, there will be time for questions, comments, and discussion. The lecture is connected to the Reading Course Global History and Global Studies (070014 UE) in which we will discuss texts directly related to the topics of the lecture. Students are invited to attend both courses, if applicable, as they complement each other.