Research and teaching within the Institute of History covers the time period from antiquity to modern history, divided into six separate (time) sections. Additionally, there is a special division focussing on history didactics, the research group "KoLT" and up until April 2023 the independent project group "Global-HOT". The management alternates on a two-year basis between the sectional chairs of the institute.

The management alternates on a two-year basis between the sectional chairs of the institute.

Ancient History at the Institute of History of the Technical University of Darmstadt is dedicated to Greek and Roman antiquity in research and teaching.

Interim professor: PD Dr. Alexander Meeus

Read more

The Middle Ages lasted from the 5th to the 15th century.

Our Medieval curriculum covers the entire medieval period, i.e. the Early, High and Late Middle Ages, with special emphasis on each team member's field of interest.

Additionally, we offer teaching in related complementary historical sciences including their digital aspect (especially palaeography, codicology and archival studies).

Chair: Prof. Dr. Gerrit Jasper Schenk

Read more

Die Forschung und Lehre am Fachgebiet Neuere Geschichte umfasst das gesamte 16.-20. Jahrhundert. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Stadt- und Umweltgeschichte.

Die Erforschung historischer Mensch-Natur Beziehungen steht in unserer Arbeit nicht im Gegensatz zur Erforschung städtischer Geschichte. Vielmehr verstehen wir die beiden Schwerpunkte des Fachgebiets als zwei sich ergänzende und wechselseitig beeinflussende Forschungsfelder.

Chair: Prof. Dr. Dieter Schott

Read more

In teaching, we offer courses on the three periods of the European modern era:

- Early Modern History (16th to 18th centuries),

- Modern History (19th to early 20th century) and

- Contemporary History (20th century).

Our research focuses on the following:

Corruption and patronage, environmental history, history of infrastructures, European history since the 18th century with a focus on Germany and France.

Chair: Prof. Dr. Jens Ivo Engels

Read more

Contrary to what is still widely believed, the history of technology is not simply the history of inventors or of artifacts, nor is it the history of the immanent reconstruction of technical developments. Rather, it describes and analyses the development, diffusion and use of technology. In a nutshell, it describes technological change, and how that change relates to political, economic, social and cultural developments.

Life without technology is not possible. Modernity in particular is essentially shaped by technology. The history of technology examines, among others, change brought about by technology in the world of work, in communication, or the importance of emotions for man’s acceptance or his/her use of technology – to mention only a few examples. Thus, the history of technology contributes to the understanding of our current technological culture.

Professor for History of Technology: Prof. Dr. Mikael Hård

Chair: Prof. Dr. Martina Heßler

Interim professor: PD Dr. Désirée Schauz

Learn more

The Chair of Humanities Data Science and Methodology works at the intersection of historical research, oral history, digital cultural heritage and the digital humanities.

Our interdisciplinary research asks how digital methods can help us to understand more about the past and the uses of the past in the present and future. Our research also addresses the benefits and limits of using data-driven, multimodal and algorythmic research methods to study the past.

Head: Prof. Dr. Julianne Nyhan

Read more

Head: Prof. Dr. Kevin Liggieri

Read more

All sections of the institute participate in the education of history teachers. The History Didactics section serves as a clearing-house for all initiatives in this area throughout the institute, especially in the study programme.

Head: Dr. Detlev Mares

Read more

The project, A Global History of Technology (GLOBAL-HOT), investigates the fate of technologies that circulated in various parts of the world from 1850 to 2000. Its researchers also investigate the persistent use of indigenous technologies along with globalized ones, as well as the emergence of hybrid solutions. Our goal is to increase our understanding of the relationships between the development and use of technologies in Europe and North America on the one hand and the so-called Global South on the other.

Project Leader: Prof. em. Dr. Mikael Hård

Read more

Find staff contacts

How to get to our premises