Course catalog

32400

Navigating the Unknown: Uncertainty in the History of North America and Beyond

Marlene Ritter

Comments

We live in uncertain times – marked by political upheavals, rapid technological change, and ecological loss and crisis. Yet, this perception of uncertainty is not unique to the present. How have people made sense of the unknown in the past? How have they tried to predict, control, or survive uncertain futures? This seminar explores how individuals, communities, and institutions have historically responded to uncertainty, in North America and beyond. Seminar topics therefore include religious beliefs and prophecies, narratives of destiny and utopia, science and statistics, social planning, bureaucracy and record-keeping, violence and exclusion, art, sports, as well as turns to history itself. Furthermore, we will discuss how historians themselves deal with uncertainty in their work: from gaps in the archives and collective memory, to epistemological questions, biases in historical research, and contested interpretations of the past. Through these themes, early BA students are introduced to the foundational skills of studying history: how to ask critical questions, develop an argument, read primary and secondary sources, and how to write (about) history. A field trip to a local archive will offer practical insights into what it means to work as a historian – and the uncertainties that come with it. close

16 Class schedule

Regular appointments

Mon, 12:00 - 14:00 16 Class schedule

Mon, 2025-10-13 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-10-20 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-10-27 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-11-03 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-11-10 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-11-17 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-11-24 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-12-01 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-12-08 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2025-12-15 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2026-01-05 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2026-01-12 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2026-01-19 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2026-01-26 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2026-02-02 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Mon, 2026-02-09 12:00 - 14:00

Location:
340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

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Location: 340 Hörsaal (Lansstr. 7 / 9)

Schedule: Mo 12:00-14:00

Class starts on: 2025-10-13

Course language: English

Contact hours: 2

Number of participants: 15

Limited attendance: Yes

Attendance required: Yes

Modules where this course belongs

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