Memory politics in early modern Europe - Detailseite

In early modern Europe, the past was an important source of authority,
legitimacy and inspiration. In their political texts propagandists
therefore frequently used the past for political purposes. Due to the
political value of history, however, its usage was often contested. Far
into the seventeenth century, for example, French Protestants and
Catholics used memories of the sixteenth-century Wars of Religion to
fight out their conflicts. Similarly, memories of the Revolt of the
Netherlands served as an important but controversial frame of reference
for policy makers in the Habsburg Netherlands and the Dutch Republic.
And long after 1688-89 the Glorious Revolution in England, Scotland and
Ireland remained a controversial topic in domestic politics.

Why was the past such a potent political frame of reference? In this
Übung we will explore how and why authorities, opinion makers and other
stakeholders used the past to bolster their political agendas.
Furthermore, we will use new insights in the field of cultural memory
studies to explain why usage of history in contemporary political
discussions tends to lead to disagreements about the past. Several cases
will be discussed, with particular attention to the Low Countries,
England, France and the Holy Roman Empire.