Timelines and Lines through Time: The History of Borders and Why it Matters

We live in a world divided, partitioned, and carved up by a multitude of borders. These boundaries can be political or geographic, peaceful or contested, enforced or intangible. They control the exchange of goods, restrict the movement of people, and outline the identities of nations. In many ways, they bound our worlds and shape our lives. But what is a border, exactly? And how does a border come to be?

In this talk, Michael will take a historical view of borders, showing how they change through time and arguing that they are far more than lines, also suggesting that maps are a crucial technology for bringing them into existence. By focusing on the process of border creation in northwestern North America, he will examine the central role played by science in laying claim to political territory. At a time when international borders are being increasingly called into question, it is more important than ever to understand their history and to imagine their futures.

This event is open to the general public and does not require registration (but please note that our seating is limited). 

Michael Kishchuk (he/him) is an MA student in the Department of History and a second-year resident at Green College. Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, he studied Earth Science and History of Science at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His research deals with maps, surveying, and geology in nineteenth-century Canada, with a particular focus on the political goals of scientific expeditions. In his spare time, Michael enjoys big books, long bike rides, and other large pursuits.