Globalisation and its discontents dominate our contemporary public and political discourse. While academics acknowledge the global reach of historical empires from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, global history is a recent academic sub-specialism. Historians of global history engage with global phenomenon across the centuries. Our own focus at the University of Dundee is historical imperialism. We explore the points of connection among empires and the interstices of empires, including the migrations of goods and labour, armies and ideologies, technologies, and philosophies. Here at Dundee, the city that was once known as the juteopolis, our global historians are placed in the unique position of being able to connect the local with the global because of Scotland and Dundee’s historical global and imperial pasts.
Beyond imperialism, our global historians at the Scottish Centre for Global History (SCGH) have a wide field of expertise that includes: collaboration in scientific knowledge, global trade and migration, transformations in medicine and environment, political protest and change, wars and religious conversion, and cultures of masculinity in frontier zones. All of these have been central to the Scottish global experience. The Centre brings together members of the School of Humanities and other academic schools at the University of Dundee with interests in the development of Global History. Our interests span the globe from South Asia to Southern Africa, from Europe to North America, and range from the sixteenth to the twentieth century.
The Centre helps facilitate academic collaboration among staff, students, and the wider community. Our research and dissemination are integrated within the History programmes: MA, MLitt and MRes in History. The Centre is currently developing a new, specific MLitt in Global History which will be available soon. The Centre organises and hosts international conferences and symposia, research seminars, and a wide array of academic projects.
Our public history project is a recent innovation (July 2020) that gives space to graduate students for sharing global history ideas, arguments, and research. Through blog posts and podcasts, our mission is to democratise global history and give impetus to graduate students. Moreover, we emphasise the “public” aspect by making our posts accessible to the non-professional history enthusiast. In our blog section, you can read about the heterogenous topics that global history incorporates. Our podcasts verbally communicate the fascinating studies that students of global history have conducted. Collectively, we endeavour to showcase the captivating history of the world in which we live.
If you would like more information on the SCGH please contact our Director, Dr Nandini Bhattacharya at n.s.bhattacharya@dundee.ac.uk.