The period between 1870 and the First World War is referred to in historiography as the "Age of Imperialism". Especially Great Britain, France, the German Empire and the USA, but also Russia and Japan cultivated an "imperial" policy during this phase. What exactly was it characterized by? How did politics, the military, the economy and science work together to subject far-flung regions of the world to the influence of the great powers? What forms of rule developed? What interactions can be observed between the societies of the "mother countries" and those of the colonized countries? In addition, the seminar deals in detail with theories of imperialism and empires.

A willingness to read English-language literature is assumed. Depending on the number of participants and current infectious events, the course will be held partly in digital format.

If the course is assigned to the module Political History A , the course credit will consist of an oral presentation (in digital format, depending on the state of affairs) with a short written paper (4-5 pages). It is possible to write a term paper (15-20 pages) as a module final exam. If the course is assigned to the module Political History B, the examination performance consists of an oral presentation (depending on the state of affairs in digital form) with written elaboration (approx. 10 pages). There is the possibility to take an oral exam on topics of the course as a module final exam.

Osterhammel, Jürgen: The Transformation of the World. A History of the 19th Century.

Münkler, Herfried: Imperium und Imperialismus, Version: 1.0, in: Docupedia-Zeitgeschichte, 11.02.2010, http://docupedia.de/zg/muenkler_imperium_v1_de_2010, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14765/zzf.dok.2.585.v1

Schöllgen, Gregor/Kießling, Friedrich: Das Zeitalter des Imperialismus (Oldenbourg Grundriss der Geschichte 15), Oldenbourg 52009.