Venice, Italy

VIU Autumn School "Republican Political Practices in Medieval Europe"

when 11 November 2017 - 14 November 2017
language English
duration 1 week
credits 2 EC

The school focus is related to a new strong historiographical trend in medieval studies. Namely, this is a reexamination of “republican” or “democratic” tendencies within the medieval society. The Autumn School’s general aim is to bring together the scholars who concentrate on horizontal political ties within the medieval society
Medieval republicanism will be discussed also in its connection to the past and to the future. In our proposed program the following questions will be discussed: can one consider medieval practical republicanism a heritage of Antiquity or not? How did it contribute to the further development of republican theory and practices in the Modern time?

Course leader

European University at St. Petersburg, Russia
Prof. Alexei Vovin - Scientific Coordinator

Target group

Master and PhD students are welcome to participate: they are encouraged to present their own topics.

Course aim

The Autumn School focuses on urban and countryside communes, first forms of proto-parliaments (like Etats Généraux in France), Orders of Knighthood, universities and other self-governing and autonomous societies in this period. The main school themes are political practices: public deliberation, voting, selection by lot, direct political participation, as well as republican notions in the texts written before 1500 A.D.: virtus, res publica, libertas and dignitas.

Fee info

EUR 0: No participation fees for students of VIU member universities.
The fees will cover tuition, course materials, accommodation in multiple rooms at the VIU campus, lunches in the VIU cafeteria.
Student participants will be responsible for covering their own travel expenses to and from Venice, local transportation and evening meals.
The School will provide a limited number of travel grants for participants from VIU member universities
EUR 200: Stuents from non VIU-member Universities.
The fees will cover tuition, course materials, accommodation in multiple rooms at the VIU campus, lunches in the VIU cafeteria.
Student participants will be responsible for covering their own travel expenses to and from Venice, local transportation and evening meals.