Does "19th century" refer in reality not to a period of time, but to time itself, a process synonymous with "modernisation" and "Europeanisation"? To what extent does the historical analysis of self-representation here follow the historical period? First topic for investigation –the examination of the language and key concepts of the age.

Periodisation evidently also has a reactive effect on history. Numerous national historiographies are still centred on the 19th century, and the specific details covered are, for the historical concepts, on the national and European scale. The problems of the different national 19th centuries form the next complex of topics.

If any country is taking a long farewell from the "long 19th century", it is above all Russia. The "brief 20th century", the limits of which are marked primarily by Soviet Russian history, is rather felt as a break in and interruption of the "normal“ development of Russia - which paradoxically brings the last century but one closer. Thus the analyses of the "19th century" in historical memory provide another topic for discussion.

The abandonment of the narratives of national history stimulates the restructuring of the fields of research, above all by the revaluation of the spatial factor and the periods determined by space. To what extent can the historical concept of the "century" in general and the "19th century" in particular be used in this context? What open questions and suitable instruments can be mentioned here? Both generalising accounts and case studies going beyond the general topics are welcome here. A comparative approach is expressly wished. Proposals for contributions outside of the catalogue of questions (for further details please see URL) will be gratefully received.

Deadlines
15 January 2011: submission of article proposals
31 January 2011: notification of acceptance
30 April 2011: submission of articles

Abstracts should be sent to the following address: XIXth@dhi-moskau.org
Publication of the contributions is planned.