I submitted and revised a paper on the historiography of the grand strategy video game Europa Universalis IV to the blog of The Webster Review of International History at LSE. Here's the link: https://lsewebsterreview.wixsite.com/blog/post/europa-universalis-iv-an-interactive-idea-of-europe Aidan Lilienfeld, blog post for The Webster Review of International History at LSE, March 2022
Author: Aidan
Project Proposal: Anglo-American Rhetoric on the Chinese “Open Door” of 1899
‘Progress’ was the buzzword of the age in late 19th century imperialism, as Britain and America expanded their projects of bringing ‘civilization’ and ‘modernity’ to the diverse peoples and economies of Asia. One prime example of this ‘civilizing mission’ can be found in Britain’s protracted engagement in China, beginning with the Opium Wars of 1839-1842 … Continue reading Project Proposal: Anglo-American Rhetoric on the Chinese “Open Door” of 1899
The Aftermath of the German Lease of Qingdao in 1897
Why and with what consequences did Germany acquire a lease over Qingdao in 1897? When Germany invaded Shandong province and acquired a lease over Qingdao in 1897, the Kaiser’s empire took its first step into the colonial-imperial world of East Asia that had been dominated for decades by the empires of Britain, Russia, and France. … Continue reading The Aftermath of the German Lease of Qingdao in 1897
Project Proposal – The Hong Kong Crisis of 2019-2020 in the History of Anglo-Chinese Relations Since 1949
I propose to analyze Chinese incursion in Hong Kong in 2019, the subsequent crises of protests and violence, and the major fallout of Sino-British relations in the aftermath. I argue that we can only responsibly claim to understand tensions in Hong Kong—which have frequently taken the spotlight on the global stage—by examining the history of … Continue reading Project Proposal – The Hong Kong Crisis of 2019-2020 in the History of Anglo-Chinese Relations Since 1949
Imperial Continuities in the Mughal Empire
When Babur descended south from Transoxiana and founded the Mughal dynasty in Kabul in 1526, he brought with him an extensive inheritance of imperial philosophy from his Timurid family and his home region around Samarkand. These philosophies and practices had stemmed in large part from centuries of refined political thought from the Persian Shahs and … Continue reading Imperial Continuities in the Mughal Empire
Mapping claims in early modern empire
Question: How have maps been used to advance imperial claims? You may choose to focus on particular empires or parts of empires. For the purposes of this essay, I will focus on the early modern empires of German Holy Rome, the Ottomans, and China (of the Ming and particularly Qing dynasties). This essay will argue … Continue reading Mapping claims in early modern empire
The Aftermath of the First Sino-Japanese War
Why and with what consequences did Qing China lose its conflict with Japan in 1894-5? Most historians agree that the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 had a great impact across the world. However, public discourse on modern East Asia often sidelines or leaves out entirely the war’s consequences on international diplomacy and imperialism. This paper … Continue reading The Aftermath of the First Sino-Japanese War
Gotland and the Baltic Sea in the Historiography of the Hanse
In 1398, the monastic state of the Teutonic Order invaded Danish Gotland, an island which had long held great importance to the merchants of the Hanseatic League. The histories of the German Teutonic Order (or Teutonic Knights) and the Hanseatic League weave intimately around each other throughout late-medieval European history.[1] This paper will primarily address … Continue reading Gotland and the Baltic Sea in the Historiography of the Hanse
The Low Countries in the Works of Henri Pirenne, Bas van Bavel, and Peter Wilson
It would be difficult to tell the history of economic development in pre-modern Europe without spotlighting the Low Countries. Although this region of Europe now holds only peripheral status in relation to the great powers of the 21st century, it once held many of the biggest centers of commercial activity in the western world. In … Continue reading The Low Countries in the Works of Henri Pirenne, Bas van Bavel, and Peter Wilson
Europa Universalis IV: An Interactive Idea of Europe
This historical strategy video game challenges the player to take up the reins as a European prince and conquer the world.[0] Sources (images from the game, referenced later in the paper): This project will examine the geopolitical representation of the European continent in the video game Europa Universalis IV. Published in 2013, EU4 (as the … Continue reading Europa Universalis IV: An Interactive Idea of Europe
Haus Lilienfeld 