HIST 3875 analyzes some of the major developments in the history of globalization throughout history with a focus on the nineteenth and twentieth century. Special attention will be given to the role played by port cities in the development of an interconnected world from the medieval period to the present.

From Viking outpost to Hanseatic powerhouse and modern maritime hub, Hamburg has long been known as Europe’s “Gateway to the World.” This summer study-abroad course invites students to explore the deep history of globalization through the streets, docks, and waterways of one of Europe’s most dynamic port cities. Anchored in both classroom learning and on-site exploration, the course traces how goods, people, and ideas have moved across continents for more than a thousand years—and how those movements have shaped the modern world.

The course begins with two intensive weeks at York University, where students build a shared foundation in the history and theory of globalization and develop key historical thinking skills. We will examine major turning points in global history, from the medieval trade routes of the Vikings and Hanseatic merchants to the age of steam, empire, and mass migration, situating Hamburg within the broader story of global interconnection.

Students will then travel to Hamburg for three weeks of immersive, experiential learning. Daily walking tours, museum visits, and field trips to Lübeck, Kiel, and the reconstructed Viking settlement at Hedeby will bring the history of globalization vividly to life. Together, we will explore the city’s role in trade, colonization, migration, and reconstruction, and engage directly with local historians, curators, and port workers. By the end of the course, students will have developed a historically grounded understanding of globalization as both an abstract process and a lived experience—one that will change the way they travel, think, and engage with the past.

Quick Links

• Prepare to Travel Safe
• Funding Opportunities for Study Abroad
• Study Abroad Frequently Asked Questions
• Study Abroad Info Sessions

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Applications for this course will be accepted until January 23, 2026 at 12 p.m. EST.

Students must use their YorkU e-mail address to apply as e-mail addresses from outside the York organization are not supported by the application platform. If your @my.yorku.ca e-mail address is not working, please input your YorkU e-mail address using only @yorku.ca.

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Prerequisites: None. History students may have preference.