Universität Wien

070120 PS BA-Proseminar -Ritual and Society: Mortuary Practices in Medieval and Early Modern Europe (2026S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 7 - Geschichte
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
Moodle
Do 21.05. 16:45-18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 25 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert


There is no class on 05.03.2026, 16.04.2026, and 30.04.2026. The class on 25.06.2026 is a block class reserved for student presentations from 9:00 to 18:00 o'clock, held in Seminarraum 19, Kolingasse 14-16 until 15:00, and from 15:00 to 18:00 in Seminarraum 6, Kolingasse 14-16, EG00.

  • Donnerstag 05.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 19.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 26.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 16.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 23.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 30.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 07.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 28.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 11.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 18.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 30 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Donnerstag 25.06. 08:00 - 14:45 Seminarraum 19, Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Donnerstag 25.06. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum 6, Kolingasse 14-16, EG00

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

The profound impact of mortality on the human experience created some of the most distinctive cultural traits in contemporary and past societies alike. Indeed, studying the past often involves direct engagement with various individual and social notions of death and dying. The course will facilitate a cross-cultural overview of medieval and early modern Europe by examining this universal condition through archaeological, written, and visual sources. The course primarily focuses on Christian practice from the age of Childeric I to the early modern period. Other contemporary religions and beliefs and the diverse social classes at the time are also represented. Delivered through a series of thematically organised lectures and seminars, case studies focus on the nature and interpretation of the burial record across Europe. The different classes survey the interdisciplinary methodologies, theoretical underpinnings and material residues of funerary rituals, helping the student to develop a broad knowledge of continental-wide burial rites and a nuanced understanding of the social dimensions of death.

Learning outcomes:
This course aims to:
• Provide an advanced introduction to interdisciplinary historical analysis, on a complex and diversified topic such as death and society in medieval and early modern Europe
• Integrate a variety of archaeological and historical evidence in a theoretically informed and critical manner
• Explore a range of current themes in interdisciplinary mortuary studies, patterns of human behaviour in the funerary context and the relationship between material culture and funerary practices
• Develop students' abilities to judge between relevant academic arguments
• Encourage students to contribute to current research debates, and develop innovative critical perspectives and evidence-based arguments.
• Foster students’ skills in presenting complex ideas, arguments and critical analysis during seminars and presentations and in written contributions.

Schedule:

Session 1 (19.03.2026):
Introduction – Death: Key concepts and principles of analysis

Session 2 (26.03.2026):
Pagan, Christian or Other? Origins and development of funerary customs

Session 3 (23.04.2026):
Meet your Maker: the theology and canon law of death and the medieval macabre

Session 4 (07.05.2026):
Social stratification I: Age and gender

Session 5 (21.05.2026):
Social stratification II: status

Session 6 (28.05.2026):
Monasticism, death, and burial

Session 7 (11.06.2026):
Saints and relics

Session 8 (18.06.2026):
Mass mortality: violence and disease

Session 9-12 (25.06.2026, 9:00 to 18:00):
Student presentations

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

By the end of this class, students should
• Demonstrate detailed, advanced knowledge of the evidence, chronological frameworks, key debates and theoretical approaches relevant to the study of death
• Critically evaluate competing interpretations of the archaeology of death and burial, and situate these within the broader context of changing perspectives in historical disciplines generally
• Develop fresh critical perspectives and contribute to current research debates concerning mortuary history
• Present cogent, evidence-based arguments in seminars and written contributions
The course finishes with a mini-workshop, where students should present their own papers on the subject.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Based on active attendance (25%), a successful oral presentation (35%), and the written submission of the term paper (45%).

Prüfungsstoff

Continuous assessment.

Literatur

Students will receive the assigned weekly readings via the Moodle page of the class.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

BA Geschichte (Version 2019): PM6 Historisches Arbeiten, PS Proseminar (5 ECTS).
BEd UF GP (Version 2014): UF GP 04 Aspekte und Räume 2, PS Proseminar zu einem Fach (5 ECTS).

Letzte Änderung: Do 19.03.2026 16:06