Workshop: "conquering the Sea, Conquering the World". Empires, Trade and Culture in the Late Modern Age

This workshop introduces students to the sea as a historical space in the late modern period, with a particular focus on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its core aim is to explore how maritime control functioned as a vehicle of power, exchange, conflict, and connection among different societies, drawing on a wide range of historiographical approaches, including political, economic, social, cultural, gender, and environmental history.
By engaging with case studies from the Mediterranean and Atlantic worlds, the workshop equips students with both methodological tools and historical knowledge to design and carry out an independent research project, culminating in the writing and presentation of a short critical essay.

By the end of the workshop, students will have developed a solid understanding of key issues in early modern maritime history and will be equipped to engage with them critically and thoughtfully. They will learn to identify, select, and interpret a variety of historical sources—including written, visual, material, and digital resources—and to integrate them effectively within a structured research framework.
Additionally, students will gain experience in compiling a thematic bibliography, independently planning a research inquiry, and applying basic digital tools for historical analysis and presentation. These skills will culminate in the production and discussion of a short critical essay, demonstrating their ability to synthesize content knowledge, methodological awareness, and reflective analysis.