Communities, Groups and Identities in Medieval Europe

This course explores the social, economic, cultural and political diversity in Europe during The High and Late Middle Ages. It has been a core assumption since the 19th century that societies are territorialised and ordered social systems under the government of norms and rules and represent the paramount type of groups into which persons can enter. These far outweigh the importance of other types of groups, such as kin, neighbourhood, political and social groups. The many various types of group in medieval Europe were nevertheless of significance and were governed by different sets of values, norms and rules and enforced various modes of behaviour. The existence and concept of a "society" should not be taken for granted. Instead of assuming a seemingly autonomous process of the "integration" of various types of groups into "societies", one has to specify the factors which contributed to the integration which obviously took place in medieval Europe. The shrinking size, reduced competence and declining autonomy of several types of groups during The Middle Ages paved the way for the rising administrative and legal importance of political and social groups. Well known concepts from our modern society, like "state" and "nation", will be central, but also "religion". The influence of The Catholic Church in medieval Europe, can hardly be overestimated.: In parallel to an exploration of these topics, students will be exposed to the main theoretical considerations based on empirical studies from different countries .

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome according to the course curriculum, defined as knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

A candidate is expected to

• have thorough knowledge about the social, economic, political and cultural diversity in Europe through the High and Later Middle Ages
• have detailed insights into the different kinds of political, religious, and economical communities and which role they played in the changing processes in the High and Later Middle Ages

Skills

A candidate is expected to

• be able to apply their knowledge about these processes
• be able to identify the reasons for the growth of "modern" political entities and forms of expression in a broad perspective

Lectures.