Bi5110 Anthropological archaeology (middleages)

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Tue 12:00–15:50 Bp1,01007
Prerequisites
Prerequisite is passing B3170 Anthropology of Prehistory and B4260 Anthropology of Antiquity.
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 aim of the course is to acquaint students with the life of the inhabitants in the Middle Ages of Central Europe, i.e. from the arrival of the Slavs (6th century) to the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. Emphasis is placed on the way of life of individual social groups of medieval society, biological and cultural diversity, and the basic features of the funeral rite. Completing the course will enable students to communicate with archaeological workplaces and to orientate themselves in the problems of the Middle Ages in the Central European context.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to: name and describe the periodization and individual periods of the Middle Ages of Moravia; explain the transformation of individual phenomena and describe their reflection in the funeral rite; discuss the reflection of the funeral rite in archaeological sources; describe the way of life of people in different periods and different social groups; apply theoretical knowledge in communication and cooperation with archaeologists.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the Middle Ages, archaeological anthropology and bioarchaeology (basic paradigms, concepts, relationship between anthropology and archaeology). 2. Man in the Middle Ages. Periodization, geographical, demographic, natural and historical framework, medieval society. 3. Farmers I - archaeological sources, culture of medieval farmers. 4. Farmers II - life and death, anthropology of medieval farmers. 5. Craftsmen, metallurgists and miners, builders of forts and castles. 6. Medieval town I - archaeological sources, origin and development of the medieval towns. 7. Medieval town II - urban society, life and death in the medieval town. 8. Medieval nobility I - nobles, knights and monarchs. 9. Medieval nobility II - anthropology of the medieval social elite. 10. Church and clergy in the Middle Ages. 11. People on the margins of medieval society (Jews, Protestants, delinquents, jesters, artists). 12. Soldiers and war in the Middle Ages. 13. Current trends in the study of medieval anthropology, bioarchaeology (molecular biology, migration, social inequality, etc.).
Literature
    required literature
  • Unger J.: Člověk ve středověku. Společnost experimentální archeologie 2012
  • Unger J.: Archeologie středověku. Odraz života lidí v archeologických pramenech, Hradec Králové 2008.
    recommended literature
  • Měřínský Z.: České země od příchodu Slovanů po Velkou Moravu I, Praha 2002, II, 2006.
  • Lutovský M.: Encyklopedie slovanské archeologie v~Čechách, na Moravě a ve Slezsku, Praha 2001.
  • Petráň J. a kol.: Dějiny hmotné kultury I/1-2, Praha 1985.
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation in the form of full-time teaching - lectures; discussion on the chosen topic. Schedule of lectures: 19. 9.; 26. 9.; 3. 10.; 17. 10.; 31. 10.; 14. 11.; 28. 11.; 12. 12. 2023.
Assessment methods
The course ends with an oral examination - discussion on the chosen topic.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
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