Contents of the subject

Objectives

Foreign students are invited to get acquainted with German history, culture and politics by attending a series of lectures as well as engaging with everyday life and rhythm of contemporary Berlin.

Participants

Exchange and guest students, number of participants restricted to 30 students

Teaching Program

Students are invited to study German society and everyday life in Berlin in several ways as by

Dynamic lectures (on German history, culture and politics);

Visits to Berlin institutions of public interest (such as Bundestag and media);

Excursions and walks to important places of historic interest as well as of modern Berlin (Märkisches Museum, DHM, Stasi-Museum; architecture; streets; the ‘Bayerisches Viertel’ around the BSEL; Berlin’s industrial past; Berlin in the Cold War; the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial; Berlin’s present culture and subcultures).

Literature

To be announced at the beginning of the seminar

Teaching and learning forms

Berlin as a Place of History

Topics:

1. Germany Today - An Overview: Geography & Economy
2. Germany Today - An Overview: Society, Constitution & Politics - Symbols
3. Roman Empire & Germanic Tribes German(ic) - Teutonic - Deutsch: The Origins of German language and nationality (105 BC - 58 BC - AD 9 - 786 etc)
4. Kaiser & Reich: Empire - Kingdom - (Con)Federation - Republic: From Karl der Große to Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Historical Overview of the German State(s): (800 - 1356 - 1416 - 1517 - 1618/1648 - 1806 - 1848 - 1871 - 1914/1945 - 1949 - 1990)
5. Historical Overview: Berlin - Brandenburg - Prussia 1174 - 1237/1244 - 1416 - 1444 - 1685 - 1701 - 1871 - 1920 - 1948/1949
6. The Jewish People in Germany: Moses Mendelssohn & Family - Walther Rathenau
7. Industrialisation & Urban Growth: Berlin AD 1800 - 1920 (Siemens, AEG, Borsig, Bolle)
8. WW1 & Weimar Republic
9. The Nazi Years: Holocaust & WW2 1933-1945
10. Cold War: The Wall - The "DDR" (GDR)
11. Religions, Social Organisations & Unions
12. Culture, Pop Music, Film Industry & Sports
13. Political Parties
14. Media
15. Architectural styles & famous Architects: Schlüter, Schinkel, Stüler, Ihne, Gropius, Poelzig etc