In a way, empires can be considered the constitutive spatial entity for organising political power in history. From ancient Rome and China to the Spanish colonial empire and from the Habsburg monarchy to the Ottoman and British empires, imperial powers have shaped the course of world history. Even though the 20th century is generally described as the era in nation states became the predominant institutions, developments such as the expansionist efforts of the Third Reich and the Japanese Empire, as well as the hegemonic claims of the USA and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, can be interpreted in a transimperial perspective. Against this backdrop, the resurgence of imperial ambitions in recent years appears to be a return of a geopolitical power dynamic quite familiar to historians.
The cluster comprises researchers from the departments of Ancient History, Eastern European History, Modern History, and Iberian and Latin American History. It takes a transepochal perspective to examine how empires dealt with ethnic diversity and how they ensured the loyalty of their subjects. It also discusses the role of economic interests for imperial policy and expoundshow and why imperial empires collapsed. Colleagues interested in these issues are welcome to join at any time.
