070069 GR Guided Reading (2016W)

Understanding the quality and content of different kinds of sources (privileges, business documents, rabbinical responsa a. o.); identifying text structure, discourse, topoi and narratives, gaining an overall view of the main topics and methods in the given historical aera; active participation on the discussions, writing of short concentrated scientific papers in good scientific practice.

Content and Methods:
Since the end of the 12th century, Jewish migration into the Austrian increased continuously. In consequence, Jewish communities were founded and Jews and Christians established close economic and social contacts. Paradigmatically, examples of integration and cultural transfer can be observed, but also exclusion, attribution as “other” and “strange”, and violent Anti-Judaism.
Based on the jointly reading of different kinds of key sources (privileges, town charters, ground registers, business and law documents, translated Hebrew texts) the seminary gives insight in different aspects of Jewish existence and Jewish-Christian living together in the late Middle Ages. Within the scope of research on “Aschkenas” (German Jewish cultural space in Central Europe) the jointly analyse of selected literature will show how historiography on Medieval Jewish History has changed, depending on the political and social context of its origin.