Renowned Historian, Honored Doctorate Recipient in History, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel
Prominent historian Prof. Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel, renowned for his extensive contributions to global historiography, has been described as "the Braudel of the nineteenth century." This esteemed title highlights his ability to integrate broad, transformative perspectives beyond traditional Eurocentric or chronological frameworks.
One of Osterhammel's most significant works is his magnum opus, **"Die Verwandlung der Welt: Eine Geschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts" (The Transformation of the World: A Global History of the Nineteenth Century)**, published in 2009. This compendious work provides a vast global narrative of the 1800s, examining social, political, and economic transformations on a worldwide scale rather than focusing solely on Europe. The book has been translated into twelve languages and is regarded as one of the best historical books in recent years.
Osterhammel's work on colonialism, notably his book *Colonialism: A Theoretical Overview*, offers a precise and multi-dimensional definition of colonialism as a relationship characterized by political dominance, structural inequality, and cultural superiority enforced by colonizers over colonized peoples. His analysis highlights how colonial powers governed colonies directly, shaping the lives of indigenous populations to serve distant metropolitan interests. This work has become influential for understanding the mechanisms and implications of colonial rule globally.
Regarding global history and specifically China, Osterhammel's scholarship often intersects with larger questions about the global middle ages and world systems, engaging with other historians like Akira Iriye. Although no single work focused exclusively on China appears in the search results, Osterhammel’s global and colonial frameworks provide important theoretical tools for interpreting China’s role in nineteenth-century and global history.
In addition to his focus on China, Osterhammel has co-authored works on decolonization, such as *Decolonization: A Short History*, highlighting transitions from colonial rule to sovereign statehood, further enriching global historiographical debates about empire and post-colony.
Osterhammel's work on world history emphasizes the export and import of people, knowledge, and goods, as well as wars. He has been advocating for transcultural comparison and global historical approaches since the 1990s. His approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of regions, including China, in world historical processes.
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel's contributions have reshaped how historians approach global history and colonial studies by integrating broad, comparative perspectives with theoretical rigor. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, the University of Freiburg awarded him an honorary doctorate.
Osterhammel was a professor of modern and contemporary history at the University of Konstanz until his emeritus status. His work on world history explores the experience of the "one world" without reducing it to a specific goal. For Osterhammel, world history is not a collection of national histories but a history of interconnection with the world. He served as the chief editor of the six-volume "History of the World," published in both American and German parallel editions from 2012 to 2023.
Prof. Dr. Daniel Leese, Professor of Sinology at the University of Freiburg and Dean of the Philosophical Faculty, characterizes Osterhammel as a leading authority in the academic community. Leese believes that Osterhammel's work is more relevant than ever in a present where the tendency to react to the complexity of the world with simple answers is strengthening.
For more information about the University of Freiburg, please contact the University and Science Communication at Tel.: 0761/203-4302 or [email protected].
- Prof. Dr. Jürgen Osterhammel's extensive work on world history, including "Die Verwandlung der Welt: Eine Geschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts" and "Decolonization: A Short History," signifies a commitment to education-and-self-development through learning and understanding global narratives, social transformations, and the interconnectedness of regions.
- Osterhammel's scholarship on global history and colonial studies underscores the importance of learning about the past to gain a broader perspective on the present and future, as his research challenges traditional Eurocentric frameworks and encourages transcultural comparison.
