Aims

At the end of this course, the student should be able to identify the principal stages and essential phenomena in the field and manipulate the various concepts giving them meaning. He will also be able to identify and criticize the principal documentary sources and proceed to various case studies.

Main themes

This course proposes a general presentation of the history of European expansion from the XVth to the XXth century. Its central concern is showing how (using Braudel's expression) the different parts of the world became increasingly linked together in a world economy whose driving forces were found in Europe. The differents aspects of European influence are taken into consideration, with its economic, social and political as well as cultural and religious dimensions.

Content and teaching methods

After an introductory meeting presenting the problematics to be worked on, fundamental bibliography and a certain number of concepts (imperialism, culturalism, ethno-centrism, ethno-exoticism, ...) or interpretative models, the course will be divided in two parts, the first dealing with the period from the XVth century-1850, the second from 1850 to present.
Without this list being exhaustive, restrictive or imperative, we may successively examine dossiers bearing on relations between Europe and overseas territories prior to the XVth century, the great discoveries, the great commercial empires, information communications networks and their effects in Europe and overseas, the wave of exploration of the XVIIIth and XIXIIIth centuries, European emigration, industrial and financial empires, the other forms of imperialism, the various stages of European reflux: decolonization, immigration and demography, economy and strategy.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation : Oral examination.
Through discussion of documents distributed in class, students are encouraged to participate actively in the instruction.
Teaching materials : Student notes.

Other credits in programs