This course examines the development of Berlin in the context of theories of global cities, emphasizing the importance of economic development, cultural and social diversity, and geopolitics in shaping metropolitan areas, past and present. We detail Berlin’s rise from a small provincial town to the capital of the German Reich and its subsequent destruction in World War II; its relative decline and stagnation as a divided city during the Cold War; and its subsequent rebirth as the German capital following reunification. We pay particular attention to the way economic and cultural forces associated with globalization have affected Berlin’s recent development including the alarming rise of extremist political forces. This asynchronous course is organized into multi-week learning units that provide students with an opportunity to pace their learning and conduct independent research on an urban topic of their own choice.