LFU:online

Historical practice of cultural encounters and conflicts

The Renaissance and humanism are considered important movements that mark an epoch’s turning point around 1500. Among other things, the seminar will be dealing with the question to what extent the broad, comparative and receptive recourse to other cultures, the ancient world and “exotic” societies led to a change in the perceptions and attitudes of contemporary cultures predominant majority and its minorities. In addition, new media were emerging, such as printing, diplomacy and the postal system. They speeded up the interconnectedness among European societies; on the other hand, together with the rediscovered sources they also led to the emergence of a modified methodology of knowledge.

Did this process of differentiation lead to a long-term paradigm shift that was an important prerequisite for a cultural “civilizing process” (Norbert Elias), thus for Enlightenment later on and for Neuhumanismus around 1800? And why wasn’t it possible to keep up an applicable standard all through the long 19^th century?

Introductory phase, short presentations and discussion, group work including reading of (source) texts

Regular active participation in class, presentation and written paper

Will be provided in the course. Course reserve collection

LFU: online registration is required!