LFU:online

By discussing various examples the class will introduce methodological approaches of paleography and the study of charters.

Most medieval sources lead to cultures of the upper classes. This ranges from the emperors and kings to the nobility and the peasants. While we are comparatively well informed about the everyday life of higher-ranking persons, we know relatively little about the cooks at the court of noble lords, urban day laborers or the mass of the peasant population, which represented the "lower ninety percent" of society.

On the basis of selected written sources (notarial imbreviations, court records, wills, inventories) from Tyrol, the tradition of medieval everyday life of these and other groups of people will be studied. 

Complementary to the introductory seminar in medieval history we will exercise the content and methodological approaches of the auxiliary sciences with focus on paleography and diplomatics using case studies. The focus is on archival sources, which we will read and transcribe together and interpret.

Exercises, case studies, discussion and lecture. Part of the work assignments will be elaborated in small groups. 

Contribution in class and short written exam

Will be discussed in the first lesson.

Before attending this course it is recommended to complete the VO Basic Knowledge from the Middle Ages