Research focus History of the reception of the Middle Ages

Research into medieval history requires reflection on the term “Middle Ages”, the different research traditions and, last but not least, knowledge of the historical use of this “Middle Ages” in the centuries from 1500 to the present. This is another focus of the work here in Heidelberg. Specific projects currently include the use of the concept of the Middle Ages in the fascisms of the 20th century, the reception of the Staufer period and the history of the Historisches Seminar (initiatives to redesign the “Spirale des Todes” and revitalize the Hexenturm). The focus also goes hand in hand with the international orientation of research at the professorship in order to bring different traditions into a dialog with each other.