"When the medieval past, artworks and works of literature, as well as historical, semi-legendary and legendary people and events are used to justify political claims and ambitions, what are historians to do? It is all too easy to denounce such claims when made by the (perceived) aggressor, the antagonist, but what if these claims are made by the victims of violence? Do historians have the moral right to denounce them - or are they to tell what they believe to be a more objective"
"This concise but significant volume is an important read for medievalists. Comprising five essays, along with an Introduction and Conclusion, it provides valuable insights into how both Russia and Ukraine interpret and deploy their medieval pasts. Figures such as Vladimir/Volodymyr the Great and Alexander Nevsky are examined to show how historical memory shapes contemporary narratives and justifications in the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine."
Russia and Ukraine use the medieval past to justify territorial claims and national narratives in the war in eastern Ukraine. Medieval artworks, literature, semi-legendary figures, and events are deployed to support contemporary political ambitions. Vladimir/Volodymyr the Great and Alexander Nevsky are invoked to show how historical memory shapes contemporary narratives and justifications. Historians face moral dilemmas when confronting politicized histories used by both perceived aggressors and victims of violence. Medievalism connects to broader regional conflicts and the rise of autocratic regimes, heightening the urgency of studying historical memory in Eastern Europe.
Read at Medievalists.net
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]