Colonial and Global History: Maritime History

Maritime History is a specialisation of the Master's programme Colonial and Global History at Leiden University. Maritime history has enjoyed a real renaissance in the past two decades, experiencing an interdisciplinary transition known as the 'Oceanic Turn'. Besides economic, political, and nautical themes, there is fresh attention to social, cultural, and environmental phenomena. At Leiden, textual sources on global shipping are connected and compared to visual and material culture. Our programme is given in close cooperation with professionals from various cultural heritage institutions in the Netherlands.

Leiden is the only university in the Netherlands with its own master’s programme in Maritime History. Being firmly embedded in the specialisation Colonial and Global History gives the programme its unique character. You will address questions such as:

• Why have humans taken to the sea?
• How have different societies mastered the sea?
• Have seas and oceans connected or divided people, commodities, values, and ideas?

Why study Maritime History?

• You will gain knowledge about the enduring and ever-changing relationship between humankind and the sea.
• You will connect developments in global shipping to transitions in colonial and post-colonial societies.
• You will have the opportunity to do an internship at maritime museums or cultural heritage institutions.