The Beginnings of an Empire. The Transformation of the Ottoman State into an Empire, demonstrated at the example of Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha’s life and accomplishmentsThe following seminar paper deals with Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha’s life and the processes that turned an Ottoman principality into the Ottoman Empire. Starting with Sultan Mehmed’s II appointment in 1444, important practices such as the nomination of a grand vizier changed significantly. Moreover, Mehmed II built a new palace which reflected the new imperial self-perception, a new code of law was installed, and the empire was centralised. All these developments become especially visible in the life of Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha Angelovic. The paper examines secondary literature as well as contemporary sources of Kritobolous and Ibn Khaldun. Sources on Mahmud Pasha’s life are rare and need to be analysed with caution as his posthumous legend influenced the production of literature about his life.
A Habsburg Source in the Struggle against France: The Power of Attorney of Emperor Frederick III to King Maximilian, 1493This paper deals with a medieval source that has received little attention in research so far: the power of attorney of Emperor Frederick III to King Maximilian of 1493. This historical document, which calls for the punishment of the French king, is marked by years of conflict between Maximilian I and Charles VIII of France. The source provides a crucial insight into the propaganda of Frederick III and Maximilian I.
Ceremonial and a birthing chair. The significance of rituals during the childbirths of Maria Theresia (1717–1780)Maria Theresia (1717–1780), Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary, delivered sixteen children in twenty years. The following seminar paper aims to reconstruct the deliveries of Maria Theresia in order to give an insight into childbirths of royals in the 18th century. It covers the childbirth itself as well as the following activities to understand the importance of rituals and ceremonials surrounding the deliveries, considering that children were equivalent to the continuity of the monarchy and the Habsburg dynasty. To this end, the paper analyses letters written by Maria Theresia herself as well as records of her master of ceremonies.
Breaking Colonial Shackles. African Decolonization Processes on Soviet Posters of the 1960sSince its beginnings, the Soviet Union has emphasized its anti-colonial solidarity. This paper examines how this political ambition was displayed on soviet posters during African decolonization processes in the 1960s. Combining the graphic analysis by Panofsky and the analytical focus on physical representations, it will be shown how the depiction of a strong, young man was used to create an ideal picture of an emancipated African freedom fighter who opposes western colonial powers.
A look into Hosser's kitchen. Analysis of chef Jakob Hosser's accounts on food used during the siege of Weineck Castle (1292)The following seminar paper examines the catering of Otto von Königsberg's troops at the siege of Weineck Castle in 1292. Firstly, the dispute between Meinhard II. and the Bishops of Trient as well as older Tyrolean accounting books are discussed. Then, the primary sources – Hosser’s accounts – are analyzed. It will be shown that Hosser’s records allow interesting conclusions on the diet of the siege troops and the chef's purchasing of goods. The analysis shows among other things that the food supply was highly differentiated, consisted largely of animal products and was subject to certain fluctuations.
Downton Mania. The Television Series “Downton Abbey” and its Impact on Public History and Film TourismThe following seminar-paper examines the potential of historical television series for historical science. Using the television series "Downton Abbey" as an example, it shows series’ effects on public history and film tourism. The main argument is that historical series increase public interest in history and thus make it possible to communicate historical topics to a broader audience.
Max Weber and the spirit of Marxism? “Historical Materialism” in Weber’s workMax Weber's methodological and historical approaches are often seen as a refutation of Karl Marx's epistemological and socio-economic theories. However, Weber developed his theories several decades after Marx, and the following paper discusses the question of whether there are traces of Marx's work in two of Weber's most influential publications. The aim is to show that there are lines of argumentation in both his methodological framework and his historical analysis that point to a certain, albeit subtle, influence that Karl Marx's theory of "historical materialism" exerted on Weber.
The change in the social role of the Samurai ranks during the Meiji RestorationThe creation of the nation state and its influence on the respective societies characterized the 19th century – not only in Europe. As a result of the Meiji Restoration, which initiated the formation of modern Japan in the 1860s, feudalism came to an end. By using Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital and class distinction, the goal of this study is to illuminate and evaluate the social status of the former warrior nobility, the samurai, under these changed circumstances.
The memory of the Krimmler Tauernflucht. Scientific research and public history initiativesThe following seminar paper examines the memory of the Krimmler Tauernflucht, a journey of a group of Jews from Eastern Europe across an Austrian alpine pass to reach Palestine in 1947. For almost forty years, this historical event was ignored by historians and the public, but the anniversaries in 1997, 2007 and 2017 as well as the founding of Alpine Peace Crossing in 2007 have brought new momentum. As a result, various initiatives have emerged and the crossing is now also being prominently addressed in the field of public history.
Les Affreux en Irak. The partial privatisation of professional bloodshed in modern warfare exemplified by the Iraq WarAfter the launch of "Operation Iraqi Freedom", the United States of America were engaged in war for the next eight years, in which they heavily relied on the assistance of private companies, known as Private Military Companies (PMC). The following paper uses the Iraq War respectively the following occupation of Iraq as a case study to examine the role of PMCs in modern warfare. It analyses the military branches in which PMCs provided support to the USA, including logistics, training, security, and even intelligence services. It also discusses the advantages as well as disadvantages of PMCs in current combat operations.
The Beginnings of an Empire. The Transformation of the Ottoman State into an Empire, demonstrated at the example of Grand Vizier Mahmud Pasha’s life and accomplishments