European Urban and Cultural History

Overview courses

• Amsterdam: a Historical introduction

  This course introduces urban history and urban studies concepts and theories by applying them to Amsterdam and by drawing comparisons with other cities, focusing on the period 1000-2000. 

  Here we deal with questions like: How did towns develop? What plans existed for city development and who decided about choices? What were and still are characteristic buildings? What can urban public space be, how do we use and experience it, how is it designed and constructed, and how is it transformed? Who migrated to towns and who lived where?

  We have lectures and readings and explore Amsterdam on city tours on foot and by bike weekly. The written exam is in October, the written resit is in early January.

• European Cultural History

  The long-distance covered by humanity has resulted in the world we are in today. Throughout the past, people and movements have worked towards offering the world a different face. Without the close study of that past, much of the present world cannot be understood. This course presents a concise overview of the major episodes in European cultural history, from Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages to early modern, modern and contemporary history, thereby highlighting the links with art and culture.

• Amsterdam: Jewish Culture

  The image of Amsterdam as a ‘Jewish City’ – Mokum – has become strongly connected to the city’s identity. In this interdisciplinary seminar you will study when and how this image took root and in how far this reflected the historical development of the city’s Jewish communities. This course includes excursions to Jewish heritage.

• Dutch Literature and Culture of the Golden Age

  In this course, you will acquire an in-depth knowledge of the literature and culture of the Dutch Golden age – the age of Rembrandt and Vondel – and study original texts and artworks.

• Decolonizing Europe: History and Memory

  The course focuses on the impact of European imperialism on the dynamics of nation-state formation starting from ‘postwar’ Europe. You will study the political developments after the Second World War and how they had their influence on culture.

• History of emotions (literature)

  The history of emotions is a booming field of interest amongst historians. During this course you explore how emotional cultures were shaped by the increasingly complex societies of urbanizing Europe in the early modern period. 

  This is a level 200 course.

• History of emotions (research)

  This is the research variant of the course History of emotions (literature). Students of this course have classes together with students of History of Emotions L_GABAALG004. Extra tutorials and individual feedback will guide them through their research projects.

  Please contact the teacher about the set-up.

  This is a level 300 course.