The Mediävistenverband (Medievalists’ Society) was founded in 1983 with the aim of providing a forum for all disciplines concerned with the Middle Ages, and through its focus on co-operative interdisciplinary work, of achieving a better understanding of this period and its culture. Today the Mediävistenverband is the largest society of medievalists in Germany with over 950 members from different countries representing a spectrum of subjects that ranges from archaeology to theology.


Objectives: The society provides an institutional framework which enables interdisciplinary discussion and takes into account theoretical approaches as well as the methodology specific to individual subjects. Great weight is given to voicing and supporting the interests of young academics: the society sees itself as an organ for all academic concerns of medieval studies and those of university policy. Through these efforts the society aims to support and secure the position of Medieval Studies both in research and university teaching. The Mediävistenverband provides a board of information for scholars, public media and members of the public interested in the Middle Ages.


Offers: All members receive the journal Das Mittelalter which is published twice a year.
Every two years the Mediävistenverband organizes an academic congress which is intended as a platform to facilitate and promote interdisciplinary discussion.
It also organizes an annual summer academy for students at the University of Düsseldorf where topics of current interest provide the basis for interdisciplinary training in core areas of Medieval Studies and knowledge of the Middle Ages.
Members and corporate bodies belonging to the Mediävistenverband are offered assistance in matters of university policy. Furthermore its members can be called upon to offer their advice and expertise in academic matters.
Log on to our web-site for the society’s latest updates as well as information on forthcoming international congresses, professorial chairs held in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and for a list of our members’ publications and addresses.


Activities: The 14th Symposium Gottes Werk und Adams Beitrag. Formen der Interaktion zwischen Mensch und Gott im Mittelalter will take place in Jena (27 - 31 March 2011). You find the Call for Papers here!

The society is setting up a database of institutions that deal with the Middle Ages. This should facilitate and speed up the exchange of information. Great emphasis is laid on maintaining regular contact with foreign institutions and promoting international cooperation. By providing such contacts and exchanges with both national and international centres for Medieval Studies the Mediävistenverband hopes to improve the coordination of activities among medievalists. Through discussions on the current status of research and methodology it hopes to contribute towards the understanding of the latest international and interdisciplinary developments and to further future perspectives and activities.
The interdisciplinary academic congress was first held in 1983 and since then has dealt with topics such as “Medieval reception of Antiquity”; “Feasts and Feasting”; “Rhythm and Seasons”; “Middle Ages and Modern Times”; “The Arts in the Middle Ages”; “Charlemagne and the Heritage of Cultures”; “Nature in the Middle Ages”. The 11th congress (“Going beyond Borders”) took place from 14th to 17th March 2005 in Frankfurt/Oder (Germany).
The journal Das Mittelalter: Perspektiven mediävistischer Forschung has been regularly published since 1996. Every issue focuses on one specific subject which is dealt with from different disciplinary angles (e.g. Providentia – Fatum – Fortuna; Female Networks; Foreign Languages and their Acquisition; Interdisciplinarity; Travelling; Communication; Byzantium – the other Europe; Episcopal Sees as Centres of Culture; Scribes; Bodies; Patterns of perception and interpretation.)

For more information about the Mediävistenverband please contact the president:

President:  Prof. Dr. Gerhard Krieger

Lehrstuhl für Philosophie I
Theologische Fakultät Trier
Universitätsring 19
D-54296 Trier

Tel (0651) 201-3529

Tel (0651) 201-3530 (Sekretariat)

Fax (0651) 201-3951

Homepage

eMail Kriegerg(at)uni-trier.de