Suchergebnisse

Der vorliegende Band vereint insgesamt 33 Beiträge von Archäologen, Historikern und Kunsthistorikern zur Geschichte kultureller Wechselbeziehungen zwischen Skandinaviern und den lokalen Gesellschaften vorwiegend in Altrussland und der Normandie in französischer und englischer Sprache. Er geht zurück auf die im Jahre 2009 in Sankt-Petersburg, Nowgorod, Staraja Russa und Caen veranstaltete Doppeltagung eines Projekts, das nicht umsonst "Deux Normandies" getauft wurde: Sein Ziel ist es, auf dem Stand aktueller methodologischer und theoretischer Erkenntnisse über kulturelle Interaktion eine vergleichende Perspektive auf zwei sehr unterschiedlich strukturierte Randzonen der viking world – die Normandie und die nordwestliche Rus' – und ihre Entwicklung zu eröffnen. Dabei wird auch die spätere kollektive, regionale Erinnerung an Beziehungen zu Skandinavien und damit ihre Politisierung thematisiert. Aus dieser empirischen Ausrichtung und der daraus resultierenden Vielstimmigkeit bezieht der voluminöse Band einen Großteil seines innovativen und ausgesprochen anregenden Charakters. Zudem stellt allein schon die hier versammelte Expertise zu den wikingerzeitlichen skandinavischen "Diasporen" mehr als genug Grund zur intensiven Lektüre dar. Insbesondere gilt dies für den vermittelten Überblick über die einschlägige russischsprachige Forschung der letzten Jahrzehnte; hier erfüllen die jeweiligen Aufsätze eine unverzichtbare Brückenfunktion. .

The relevance of medieval studies and their future prospects are issues related not only to the humanities, but also to society at large and to its political and cultural sensibilities. The problem touches upon the relevance of the fields studied by medievalists, and of their research, for both present and future, especially for the general awareness of historical processes which are marked by complex dynamics and non-linear entanglements. One way to challenge received preconceptions and to sharpen the sensitivity in society and academia alike for the relevance of medieval studies, might be to question the appropriateness of the term 'middle ages' itself when designating an entire period of history. When reconsidering received wisdom concerning the definition of historical watersheds and chronological boundaries, we can become aware of the ongoing relevance of 'medieval' phenomena and of their transformations within 'modern' society. Such continuities can be illustrated by referring to various phenomena, including globalization, migration, mobility, multilingualism, national cultures and attitudes towards nature and the environment. In view of the fact that the fields studied by medievalists and the results produced by their research continue to be of critical importance for an understanding of modernity, medieval disciplines are called upon to develop guidelines and strategies for activities underlining and fostering their outreach, not only towards an academic public, but also towards political and educational actors, thereby heightening the awareness of the crucial importance of medieval studies for the cultural and political development of society in years to come. On the other hand, medieval studies – oriented towards the present and future – always have to bear in mind the historical conditions of their epistemologies, including their political implications and consequences. This is the only way to avoid an instrumentalization of medieval studies for political ends, e.g. by right-wing activists claiming support for their populist agendas by trying to reconstruct an imagined community of the 'Christian west'. ; The relevance of medieval studies and their future prospects are issues related not only to the humanities, but also to society at large and to its political and cultural sensibilities. The problem touches upon the relevance of the fields studied by medievalists, and of their research, for both present and future, especially for the general awareness of historical processes which are marked by complex dynamics and non-linear entanglements. One way to challenge received preconceptions and to sharpen the sensitivity in society and academia alike for the relevance of medieval studies, might be to question the appropriateness of the term 'middle ages' itself when designating an entire period of history. When reconsidering received wisdom concerning the definition of historical watersheds and chronological boundaries, we can become aware of the ongoing relevance of 'medieval' phenomena and of their transformations within 'modern' society. Such continuities can be illustrated by referring to various phenomena, including globalization, migration, mobility, multilingualism, national cultures and attitudes towards nature and the environment. In view of the fact that the fields studied by medievalists and the results produced by their research continue to be of critical importance for an understanding of modernity, medieval disciplines are called upon to develop guidelines and strategies for activities underlining and fostering their outreach, not only towards an academic public, but also towards political and educational actors, thereby heightening the awareness of the crucial importance of medieval studies for the cultural and political development of society in years to come. On the other hand, medieval studies – oriented towards the present and future – always have to bear in mind the historical conditions of their epistemologies, including their political implications and consequences. This is the only way to avoid an instrumentalization of medieval studies for political ends, e.g. by right-wing activists claiming support for their populist agendas by trying to reconstruct an imagined community of the 'Christian west'.