The coastal areas of the Baltic Sea have always been defined by the crossing of borders: Different cultural regions were connected by waterways, and ideas, knowledge and goods were exchanged. Medieval monasteries were embedded in these interregional dynamics and took on their very own character. They were not only places of contemplation and education, longing for the heavenly beyond, but at the same time they were multifunctional centres of secular and spiritual networking. In this connection, the outstanding social significance of these domains of faith, life and economy becomes tangible, showing enormous potential for innovation and thus leaving deep traces until today.
Building on the handbook project "Klosterregister und Klosterbuch für Pommern" (Monastery Register and Monastery Book for Pomerania) and the conference held in this context ("Klöster in Pommern. Status and Perspectives of Research",11-13 May 2023 in Greifswald), the early career researchers' workshop goes beyond the Pomeranian institutes and asks for the Baltic Sea region about the individual development and manifestations of the spiritual institutes, for example their liturgy, architecture, regionality, economy etc., especially in the light of their religious affiliation and identification, but also about their innovative power and unique characteristics.
The workshop pursues an open approach: It is aimed at junior scholars, especially Master's and PhD students from history and related disciplines with a focus on Central, Eastern and Northern European research on monasteries and the history of religious orders. The interdisciplinary and internationally oriented event intends to bring participants together in order to encourage academic networking. Due to the workshop character, unresolved research questions and methodological bottlenecks are also welcome in order to make these issues the subject of constructive discussion as needed and thus generate ideas for the individual project, but also for current research.
Participants are asked to present their own research projects for discussion in the plenary in the form of individual workshop reports.
It is desirable that the contributions are oriented towards one of the following themes:
Regional imprints
- Religious goals and spiritual/economic realities
- Reforms and networks
Identity / identification
- Art and Architecture
- Proximity and distance to the order, the diocese or the curia
Relics and inventories
- Archive and library inventory
- Archaeological, architectural and art-historical material relics
Please send your proposal (max. 1500 characters) for a 20-minute contribution as well as information about yourself (max. 300 characters) to the organisers by 01 July 2023. We look forward to receiving your proposals.
The workshop will take place exclusively in person. Travel and accommodation costs can be covered. A publication of the contributions is planned.