Lecturer:
Dr. Rainer Barzen of the University of Münster conducted a workshop for members of the 'Beyond the Elite' research group. The workshop focused on the political and cultural geography and topography of Jews and Christian in the medieval German lands, and included four sections. The first discussed general regional distinctions and cultural development in the medieval German lands, without focusing on Jews in particular. The second section studied local and regional politics in the area, with more emphasis on the role that Jews played in these political dynamic. The third section was dedicated to the relations between Jews and Christians in the German urban space, and the last section focused on buildings, inscriptions, and the internal dynamics of Jewish communities. Dr. Barzen's impressive knowledge of the Latin, vernacular and Hebrew primary sources allowed him to present a fascinating discussion of these issues.