ARCHKRA008 Archeology of the Czech lands – late Middle Ages and modern times

Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Peter Kováčik, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. et PhDr. Markéta Tymonová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. et PhDr. Markéta Tymonová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. et PhDr. Markéta Tymonová, Ph.D.
Institute of Historical Sciences – Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Prerequisites
Knowledge of medieval history in the Czech lands and Europe.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The lecture series introduces the audience to the main problem areas of the study of the period of transition between the Middle Ages and the early modern period on the basis of historiographical and archaeological production, focused on economic, social and cultural processes. Emphasis will be placed on an overview of theoretical directions from the point of view of their contribution to scientific knowledge and the monitoring of changes in residential and social structures due to modernization trends. Students will master the heuristics of the material being discussed in exercises based on examples from historical and archaeological practice.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge of material sources. Use of written and other sources. Evaluation of scientific findings. Work with professional text.
Syllabus
  • 1. Subject of study, sources, paradigm, perception of time, chronology, literature. 2. Historiography and archeology from the German school to the French "Annales" school. 3. Postmodern trends in historiographical and archaeological production. 4. Changes in rural settlement (production areas, mountain colonization). 5. A village at the turn of the Middle Ages and early modern times (house, agricultural production, subjects). 6. Urbanization on the threshold of the modern age (production, bourgeois society, culture). 7. The city as a political-economic center in the countryside (city estate, courtyards). 8. Power elites (seats, society, lifestyle). 9. Aristocracy (nobleman as businessman, official or warlord). 10. Reformation movement (Hussiteism, Protestantism). 11. Education, enlightenment and learned societies. 12. Everyday life (eating and housing, fashion and clothing, entertainment, travel). 13. The crisis of traditional society at the threshold of the early modern age.
Literature
    required literature
  • Unger J.: Člověk ve středověku. Svědectví archeologických pramenů. Hradec Králové 2012.
  • Bůžek, V. et al.: Společnost českých zemí v raném novověku. Struktury, identity, konflikty. Praha 2010.
  • Van Dülmen, R.: Kultura a každodenní život v raném novověku (16. – 18. století). I. – III. Praha 1999 a 2006.
    recommended literature
  • Braudel, F.: Kultura materialna, gospodarka i kapitalizm XV – XVIII wiek, I – III. Warszawa 1992.
  • Cerman, M. – Maur, E.: Proměny vesnických sociálních struktur v Čechách 1650–1750. Český časopis historický 98, 2000, 737-774.
  • Bůžek, V. et al.: Věk urozených: Šlechta v českých zemích na prahu novověku. Praha – Litomyšl 2002.
Teaching methods
Lectures and seminars.
Assessment methods
Oral exam, attendance at seminars (75%), active approach.
Language of instruction
Czech
The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2023, Summer 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fpf/summer2025/ARCHKRA008