General History of the 19th Century

The course deals with general history of the 19th century with emphasis on European and world demographic, economic, social, political, cultural and idea processes, such as the demographic revolution, linked with the development of health care, urbanization (relation town – countryside), migrations, agrarian and industrial revolution, importance of technical development for the way of life, capital and market development, changes in social structure (development of capital and educated bourgeoisie/intelligence/ clerks, craftsmanship, working class, social differentiation of the rural population, professional structure, stratification of society, formation of modern countries (dominant and non-dominant), democratization of society and development of parliamentarism, emergence of ideological sides and political parties, liberalism, socialism, religions and secularization, women's political movements, emergence of anti-Semitism and racism, cultural spectrum (apart from traditional folk culture/culture of celebrations/innovative events in fiction, arts, science, culture of leisure, sports). Key events are dealt with in detail (e.g. French Revolution, the year 1848, American Civil War, unification of Italy and Germany, the Russian Revolution, World War One) and development of the European (and American) imperialism and colonialism. Special emphasis will also be on the history of European colonialism in North Africa, Near and Far East.