Peter Borschberg

I teach and research the history of global interaction with a focus on maritime history and cartography in the period 1500-1900. My research has an interdisciplinary angle, reaching out to students and scholars interested in historical geography, international law, political science, international relations, economics and trade. In the past I focused on the life and work of the Dutch humanist lawyer Hugo Grotius but I've also branched out into Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese imperial history, and the history of the law of nations.

TEACHING AREAS:

• Global history
• Global trade flows and interaction
• Empires and imperialism
• History of International Law

CURRENT RESEARCH:

• The origins of modern international law and the law of nations
• Maritime history
• Early modern diplomacy
• Historical cartography

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

• “Singapore’s Rise as a Global Port and Trading Hub”, Leadership (Singapore: Singapore Management University, Commodities Trading Institute, 2015), pp. 6-13.
• “Singapura in Early Modern Cartography: A Sea of Challenges”, Visualising Space. Maps of Singapore and the Region. Collections from the National Archives and National Library of Singapore (Singapore: National Library Board, 2015), pp. 6-33.
• Borschberg (ed.), Admiral Matelieff’s Singapore and Johor, 1606-1616 (Singapore: NAS, 2015).
• Borschberg (ed), Journal, Memorials and Letters of Cornelis Matelieff de Jonge. Security, Diplomacy and Commerce in 17th Century Southeast Asia (NUS Press, 2015).
• Borschberg (ed.) Jacques de Coutre’s Singapore and Johor, 1595-c.1625 (Singapore: NUS Press, 2015).