A history of Berlin focusing on the period from 1815 to the present. The course examines changes in the economic structure, social development and technical history of Berlin. Topics covered include Berlin as a cultural center in literature, the fine arts, cabaret, and theater as well as urban planning and the division and unification of a modern city. Particular attention is paid to the periods of reunification and the postwar period.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students should have gained general knowledge about the development of Berlin and the development of urban settings. Understanding of political development in Berlin and structures of German society throughout the 19th and 20th century should be gained. Through this, students should learn that it is not possible to always compare Berlin culture with that of the rest of German society. History of the city, especially during the Cold War should be understood.
Method of presentation:
This course is based on a mix of lectures, discussions and three excursions to important Berlin sites.
Required work and form of assessment:
Final grades will be based on a midterm (20%) and a final examination (25%), a term paper (25%), and oral participation (30%).Class attendance is required.
content:
1. The geographical, political, and legal conditions affecting Berlin's historical development; major stages of development prior to 1815; developments following the victory over France; condition of the Residence, urban expansion, stratification of Prussian society
2. Field study trip to medieval and late feudal ruins of Berlin
3. The industrial revolution in Berlin, with comparisons to England and France; Berlin as adaptation site for developments from other countries; overall structure and stages of industrial development
4. Urban planning and architectural development in Berlin up to 1871, with comparisons to Paris and London; from the imperial Residence to modern urban planning; the Hobrecht-Plan viewed in an international context
5. Field study trip to Prenzlauer Berg, city quarter built at the end of the 19th century
6. Highway and railroad construction as precondition of industrial development of the city; comparisons to the U.S. and England; foreign influences on development; significance of Berlin as a crossroads
7. The revolution of 1848 and the modernization of the city; social stratification of the populace and the impact of the revolution; the political transformation of Prussia under Bismarck
8. The role of the Jews and minorities in the city; conformity constraints and the law
9. Breaches to Modernism: urban technology and environmental protection
10. Imperial Berlin; social stratification; modernization of neighborhoods and traditional elitist thinking; Berlin as capital city of the German Empire
11. The workers' movement in Berlin; changes in Berlin's political landscape; social problems in Berlin; political power of the workers' movement
12. Revolution and the democratization of society after 1918; Berlin as center of world culture and art; the avant-garde
13. Berlin as the capital of the Weimar Republic; election results; the polarization of political power
14. The destruction of Berlin's leading role by the National Socialists; Berlin as the point of origin for war and genocide; Berlin during World War II
15. Field study trip to the former government quarter; Wilhelmstraße, Reichstag, Wall and No-Mans-Land
16. Regional and international development of the city; "World Capital Germania."
17. Post-war development and the division of Berlin
18. Berlin in the Cold War; the Wall and regional development; reunification; prognosis for the future
Required readings:
(selected chapters assigned from the following publications)
(Autorenkollektiv). Geschichte Berlins von den Anfängen bis 1945. Berlin, 1987.
Berlin, Berlin: Die Ausstellung zur Geschichte der Stadt. Berlin, 1987.
Berlinisch: Geschichtliche Einführung in die Geschichte einer Stadt. Berlin, 1986.
Borrmann, Richard. Die Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler von Berlin. Berlin, 1893, 1984.
Demps, Laurenz. Der schlesische Bahnhof in Berlin: Ein Kapitel preußischer
Eisenbahngeschichte. Berlin, 1991.
Exerzierfeld der Moderne: Industriekultur in Berlin im 19. Jahrhundert. München, 1984.
Geist, Kuervers. Das Berliner Miethaus. 3 vols. München, 1989.
Heinrich, Gerd (ed.). Kulturatlas Berlin, Ein Stadtschicksal in Karten und Texten. Berlin: Scantinel, 2007. Ribbe, Wolfgang (ed.) Die Geschichte Berlins. München, 2001 (2. Auflage)
Ribbe, Wolfgang; Berlin 1945-2000. Grundzüge der Stadtgeschichte. Berlin 2002
Schrader, Bärbel, and Jürgen Schebera. Die goldenen zwanziger Jahre. Leipzig, 1987.
Kunstmetropole Berlin. Berlin and Weimar, 1988.
Wruck, Peter, ed. Literarisches Leben in Berlin 1871-1933. 2 vols. Berlin, 1987.
Recommended readings:
Hüter, Karl-Heinz. Architektur in Berlin 1900-1933. Berlin, 1987.
Laitko, H., ed. Wissenschaft in Berlin. Berlin, 1987.
Stadtbilder: Berlin in der Malerei vom 17. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart. Berlin, 1987.
History of Modern Berlin: From 1815 to the Present
A history of Berlin focusing on the period from 1815 to the present. The course examines changes in the economic structure, social development and technical history of Berlin. Topics covered include Berlin as a cultural center in literature, the fine arts, cabaret, and theater as well as urban planning and the division and unification of a modern city. Particular attention is paid to the periods of reunification and the postwar period.
By the end of the course, students should have gained general knowledge about the development of Berlin and the development of urban settings. Understanding of political development in Berlin and structures of German society throughout the 19th and 20th century should be gained. Through this, students should learn that it is not possible to always compare Berlin culture with that of the rest of German society. History of the city, especially during the Cold War should be understood.
This course is based on a mix of lectures, discussions and three excursions to important Berlin sites.
Final grades will be based on a midterm (20%) and a final examination (25%), a term paper (25%), and oral participation (30%).Class attendance is required.
1. The geographical, political, and legal conditions affecting Berlin's historical development; major stages of development prior to 1815; developments following the victory over France; condition of the Residence, urban expansion, stratification of Prussian society
2. Field study trip to medieval and late feudal ruins of Berlin
3. The industrial revolution in Berlin, with comparisons to England and France; Berlin as adaptation site for developments from other countries; overall structure and stages of industrial development
4. Urban planning and architectural development in Berlin up to 1871, with comparisons to Paris and London; from the imperial Residence to modern urban planning; the Hobrecht-Plan viewed in an international context
5. Field study trip to Prenzlauer Berg, city quarter built at the end of the 19th century
6. Highway and railroad construction as precondition of industrial development of the city; comparisons to the U.S. and England; foreign influences on development; significance of Berlin as a crossroads
7. The revolution of 1848 and the modernization of the city; social stratification of the populace and the impact of the revolution; the political transformation of Prussia under Bismarck
8. The role of the Jews and minorities in the city; conformity constraints and the law
9. Breaches to Modernism: urban technology and environmental protection
10. Imperial Berlin; social stratification; modernization of neighborhoods and traditional elitist thinking; Berlin as capital city of the German Empire
11. The workers' movement in Berlin; changes in Berlin's political landscape; social problems in Berlin; political power of the workers' movement
12. Revolution and the democratization of society after 1918; Berlin as center of world culture and art; the avant-garde
13. Berlin as the capital of the Weimar Republic; election results; the polarization of political power
14. The destruction of Berlin's leading role by the National Socialists; Berlin as the point of origin for war and genocide; Berlin during World War II
15. Field study trip to the former government quarter; Wilhelmstraße, Reichstag, Wall and No-Mans-Land
16. Regional and international development of the city; "World Capital Germania."
17. Post-war development and the division of Berlin
18. Berlin in the Cold War; the Wall and regional development; reunification; prognosis for the future
(selected chapters assigned from the following publications)
(Autorenkollektiv). Geschichte Berlins von den Anfängen bis 1945. Berlin, 1987.
Berlin, Berlin: Die Ausstellung zur Geschichte der Stadt. Berlin, 1987.
Berlinisch: Geschichtliche Einführung in die Geschichte einer Stadt. Berlin, 1986.
Borrmann, Richard. Die Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler von Berlin. Berlin, 1893, 1984.
Demps, Laurenz. Der schlesische Bahnhof in Berlin: Ein Kapitel preußischer
Eisenbahngeschichte. Berlin, 1991.
Exerzierfeld der Moderne: Industriekultur in Berlin im 19. Jahrhundert. München, 1984.
Geist, Kuervers. Das Berliner Miethaus. 3 vols. München, 1989.
Heinrich, Gerd (ed.). Kulturatlas Berlin, Ein Stadtschicksal in Karten und Texten. Berlin: Scantinel, 2007. Ribbe, Wolfgang (ed.) Die Geschichte Berlins. München, 2001 (2. Auflage)
Ribbe, Wolfgang; Berlin 1945-2000. Grundzüge der Stadtgeschichte. Berlin 2002
Schrader, Bärbel, and Jürgen Schebera. Die goldenen zwanziger Jahre. Leipzig, 1987.
Kunstmetropole Berlin. Berlin and Weimar, 1988.
Wruck, Peter, ed. Literarisches Leben in Berlin 1871-1933. 2 vols. Berlin, 1987.
Hüter, Karl-Heinz. Architektur in Berlin 1900-1933. Berlin, 1987.
Laitko, H., ed. Wissenschaft in Berlin. Berlin, 1987.
Stadtbilder: Berlin in der Malerei vom 17. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart. Berlin, 1987.