BA Urban History: Rotterdam in Global Perspective

Course Description

The second half of the 19th century witnessed a period of rapid urbanization in Europe. The life of the city dweller, in particular in Europe, became economically, socially and economically dominant. This course orientates on the major transformations:
- Urbanization, the growth of cities and the shaping of the modern global city
- The port city as specific city (second city, shock city) and its relationship to the global city
- The planned modern city and ideal models on urban planning
- Cities as places of migration and superdiversity
- Urban visual culture, urban icons and the mediatisation of the city
- Urban heritage, public history and the role of the city museum

Rotterdam, originally one of the many typical Dutch commercial medieval cities, showed a spectacular growth in the 19th century. Rotterdam became the working city of the Randstad conurbation and turned into a world port after the Second World War. The modern urban history of Rotterdam – considered to be the most dynamic city of the Dutch metropolis since 1850 – is used as a case study to discuss the impact of 19^{th and}20^th century urban transformations.

Learning goals

Cities have played a significant role in the transformation of the world and today a majority of the world population lives in cities. Many scholars relate this urban revolution to a new round of globalisation. However, globalisation is a much longer-term historical process. This course focuses on 19th and 20th century’s urban transformation and gives an introduction on global urban history, using Rotterdam as a case study.