Ibero-American History

History appears only as one of the relations, in which the other can be conceived as a possibility of oneself, time and space become equivalent dimensions for this fundamental experience that assumes the task of seeing and evaluating the other not through one's own, the past not through the present. (...) This is not a matter of our own choice, but of the existent claim upon ourselves to maintain present human's ubiquity.

Hans Blumenberg

Iberian and Latin-American History has been an important part of research and teaching at our department ever since it was founded in 1973. The integration of the geographic areas of both the Iberian Peninsula and the Middle and South American continent into one unit accommodates for the special interconnection of these regions in the course of history.
The combination of European and Non-European History allows us to substitute regionally focused research with studies in Comparative History, Entangled Histories and History of Relationships.

We are part of the interdisciplinary Center for InterAmerican Studies (CIAS) at Bielefeld University.
The CIAS is a joint project comprising studies of History, Literature, Culture, Media and Linguistics as well as Sociology and Theology. We attach great importance to an intimate interlinking of research and teaching.
With view to intercultural competencies we maintain ERASMUS partnerships with several European universities. Furthermore, we cooperate with selected universities in North and Latin America.

*English translation by Diana González.