IMC 2011: Sessions

Session 215: Rich and Poor in Medieval Chronicles

Monday 11 July 2011, 14.15-15.45

Moderator/Chair:	Anna Adamska, Onderzoekinstituut voor Geschiedenis en Kunstgeschiedenis, Universiteit Utrecht
Paper 215-a	Expressions Related to 'poor' and 'rich', 'poverty' and 'richness' in Central European Chronicles of the 12th and 13th Centuries (Language: English) Tomáš Klimek, Národní knihovna České republiky Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Historiography - Medieval, Language and Literature - Latin, Mentalities
Paper 215-b	The Picture of the Ruler as Supporter of the Poor in the Chronicles of the High Middle Ages (Language: English) Grischa Vercamer, Deutsches Historisches Institut Warschau Index terms: Historiography - Medieval, Mentalities, Political Thought, Politics and Diplomacy
Paper 215-c	Defending Monastic Property: The Afterlives of a Canonical Collection in a Cartulary Chronicle (Language: English) Lari Ahokas, Department of Philosophy, History, Culture & Art Studies, University of Helsinki Index terms: Historiography - Medieval, Monasticism
Abstract	Paper -a: This paper tries to look at the theme of poverty and richness in Medieval Europe from an interdisciplinary perspective using methods developed by diachronic semantics and applying the results of such an analysis to wider historiographical interpretation of studied texts. Author tries to solve the question what position this topic held in texts of Central European chroniclers. The chosen analyzed material is created by rather homogenous type of texts enabling deeper comparison. The author also tries to introduce new research possibilities showing some recently developed features of digital libraries. Paper -b: How did European rulers deal with their poor subjects in the High Middle Ages? In the chronicles of the time we can find descriptions of princes, who behaved towards the poorest of their realm exceedingly generous. To what extent does this only reflect part of a catalogue of virtues, to which charity certainly belonged, in order to stylize the ruler as highly suitable? If we can glimpse behind the curtain of such stereotypes, can we single out rulers, who really cared for their destitute? Furthermore, has there been a special 'class' of poors, e.g. poor clerics, who were distinctively supported? Paper -c: Abstract withheld by request.