Mediterranean History (Master of Arts)

Explore the liquid continent! The international MA in Mediterranean History is a consecutive programme that builds upon the three-year BA in History at the University of Konstanz as well as on a Bachelor's degree in a subject relevant to the Master's programme. As a research-oriented programme in English, it provides a cross-epochal understanding of Mediterranean societies. As a contact zone between Africa, Asia, and Europe, the Mediterranean region was a laboratory of globalisation in which boundaries of trade, empires and settlement, religion, language, and culture were constantly shifting. Today, the region is in focus due to various crises and conflicts: war, migration, and climate change. At the same time, it remains a popular holiday destination and is also considered a role model in terms of nutrition. Many of these phenomena—from eating and travelling to violence, flight, and displacement—reach far back into the past and can, therefore, only be understood from a long-term perspective. The Middle East conflict, for example, does not only stem from the transformation of Palestine in the 20th century but also from the fact that Jerusalem is considered 'holy' to all three monotheistic religions. The phenomenon of tourism also originated in this region and can be traced back as a form of mobility to the early modern Grand Tour and the pilgrimages of the Middle Ages. At the same time, the Mediterranean region has been a hot spot and a crucial subject of innovative historiography and cultural theory, from environmental history and post-colonialism to global history and ocean studies. Against this background, the unique MA study programme examines trans-Mediterranean dynamics and entanglements over a period of 3,000 years: from antiquity to the 21st century. It provides Bachelor's graduates in history and cultural studies with a cross-period knowledge of the history, cultures, and languages of Mediterranean societies, which is equally important for academic careers and non-academic professions. You will acquire practical skills and regional expertise about a key region of the world, which are urgently needed not only in academia but also by institutions, organisations, and companies that are active in the Mediterranean and cooperate with partners in the region. In addition, it deepens knowledge about the countries of origin of Mediterranean immigrants and thus creates a basis for social cohesion: by understanding the Mediterranean region better, we also understand today's Europe better!