Medieval Meetings University of Lleida 2-6 July 2012
Sacred Space in the Medieval Monastic World
(Les Avellanes, 2nd-3th July)
This is the third annual meeting of the ‘Jornades d’Història’ which focus on the history of the medieval church and religiosity, organised since 2010 by the Consolidated Medieval Research Group ‘Space, Power and Culture’ of Lleida University and held at the former Premonstratensian monastery of Santa Maria de Bellpuig de les Avellanes (Os de Balaguer), an ideal environment for the discussion and reflection about medieval monasticism.
The theme of this year’s meeting offers a broad basis for discussion of a wide range of approaches to the topic of sacred space in the context of medieval monasticism, considered here by some of the foremost historians, art-historians, archaeologists and theologians from across Europe. Thus we aim to consider the important issue of the symbolic space and the cultural construction of the monastery as a representation of an earthly Paradise. The discussion surrounding the (unaccidental) design and order of the monastic buildings, as well as the expected behaviour of those occupying this space is currently attracting a great deal of attention from scholars from across the academic disciplines. The idea of the sacred space does not only apply to the physical buildings of medieval European monasteries, be they masculine or feminine, but also
to the liturgical and the symbolic space. The life of monks, canons and nuns is determined by these metaphysical spaces which give structure both to their regulated lives and to their physical environment. In order to understand better the medieval monastic life it is therefore imperative to confront its ideas of ‘sacred space’. In this context both the use and the abuse of the space in which medieval religious life took place need to be considered. The daily life of members of religious orders in medieval Europe was organised according to highly symbolic norms, which can be seen not only in the buildings of these communities, but also in their routines, their liturgy, even their dress or they apparently ‘prophane’ activities. Similarly, the location of the high altar or the shape of thecloister were not accidental; rather, they all form part of a greater monastic vision which this meeting seeks to unravel in a series of interdisciplinary and international papers and debates.
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Dynastic ruptures and legitimacy in the Middle Ages
(Balaguer, 4th, 5th and 6th July)
The scientific meeting “Dynastic ruptures and legitimacy in the Middle Ages”, is linked to the 500th anniversary of the Compromise of Caspe and to a European historiographical context in which, in different research groups and centres, the understanding of power and its justification in the medieval period has been developed.
The Consolidated Medieval Research Group ‘Space, Power and Culture’, which sponsors this event, has promoted various publications and initiatives, including the ongoing research project on “Identity, memory and ideology” in the Middle Ages (HAR2009-08598/HIST). The foundation thus established underscores the need to renew the perspectives of scientific approach with the aim of achieving a general vision within a medieval European framework. Interdisciplinarity, internationalisation and comparative study are the key elements for the proper interpretation of historical events, their understanding and the appreciation of their importance. Aspects such as the understanding of the circulation of ideas and the shaping of political models will simultaneously be resolved from this global perspective. The conference is divided into eighteen presentations by outstanding scholars (Dumezil, Martinez-Gros, Lecuppre, Cantarella, Millet, Nieto Soria, Gilli, Valdaliso, Riera, Bertran, Boucheron, Watts, Jaspert, Villards, Ramírez, Duarte, Estepa, Sabaté), five discussions between the participants, based on the thematic order of the papers (Ruptures and impostures in medieval legitimacy, The legality of rupture, Dynastic ruptures in the Crown of Aragon, Dynastic ruptures in later medieval Europe), a practical session on the traces of the Compromise of Caspe and the county of Urgell (Memory and rupture in the county of Urgell), and a round table (Dynasties and ruptures in the county of Urgell), with the aim of identifying common explanatory models in the Iberian Peninsula. The proceedings of this meeting will be published.
Look at the programme
ENROLMENT:
“Sacred Space in the Medieval Monastic World”
€30 (ordinary enrolment)
“Dynastic ruptures and legitimacy in the Middle Ages”
€50 (ordinary enrolment)
Special offer: If you prefer to enrol for both activities, take this opportunity and only pay €50!!*
*Offer only valid for participants in the IMM
Contact us: medieval@historia.udl.cat
