Unsovereign Space
This module examines understandings of space, as well as claims, negotiations, and ways humans have attempted to share space across time. Through four lessons, students will learn about early modern Chinese, Portuguese, and Dutch conceptualizations of space in the Indian Ocean; negotiations in Southeast Asia between Siam and Britain during the era of 19th century imperialism; and the history and present of debates about outer space, cyber space, and earth and the climate. Using secondary and primary sources, students will examine contrasting imaginings of space in order to appreciate the impermanence and arbitrariness of the current system of nation-states, and to show how space has been subject to interpretation and deliberation across time. The module also considers how seemingly neutral or innocuous tools, like cartography, treaty-making, and mythmaking played critical roles in establishing imperial power and shaping humanity’s relationship with space. In addition, it also aims to help students apply lessons from the past to better understand the present, and find solutions for the future.
Original version authored by Phillip Guingona
Readings and Primary Sources
Module Lesson Plan:
Lesson 1:
Lesson 2:
- Unsovereign-Space-2.1-Reading 2-Chinese, portuguese, and dutch systems
- Unsovereign-Space-2.2-Primary Source Collection 1-Ming and portuguese systems
- Unsovereign-Space-2.3-Primary Source Collection 2-Grotius and selden
Lesson 3:
- Unsovereign-Space-3.1-Reading 3-Cartography and scientific empire building
- Unsovereign-Space-3.2-Primary Source Collection 3-Treaties between siam and britain
- Unsovereign-Space-3.3-Primary Source Collection 4-Analyzing maps
Lesson 4:
