The course is designed to make students familiar with scopes and aims of research into post-Roman inscriptions throughout Europe, focussing on the large-scale collaborative edition project of "Die Deutschen Inschriften".

Unit 1: Definition of the topic; epigraphy as an auxiliary science of history; collecting inscriptions through the ages (from Renaissance sylloges to modern online databases
Unit 2: Edition projects dedicated to national stocks of epigraphic sources (an overview); different approaches to the research area of epigraphy; The interacademic edition enterprise "Die Deutschen Inschriften", its history from the beginnings in 1934 until today
Unit 3: Research tools and topics of epigraphic scholarship: a typology of inscribed objects
Unit 4: Research tools and topics of epigraphic scholarship: palaeography of inscriptions 1
Unit 5: Research tools and topics of epigraphic scholarship: palaeography of inscriptions 2
Unit 6: Research tools and topics of epigraphic scholarship: Textual analysis, linguistic connotations
Unit 7: Edition schemes of epigraphy, esp. as applied with the "Deutsche Inschriften" series

The course provides an overview of the methodological framework of auxiliary sciences specific to the scholarly tradition of German-speaking countries (clearly distinguishable from the English and French approaches to the topic), and to outline the development of a standard canon of disciplines belonging to a field of research which started out as early as the first half of the 18th century. The main goal of the course is to familiarize students with the terminology applied in German academic literature. The language of the course will, therefore, mainly be German.
The six units will cover: Introduction to the discipline and its development; Diplomatics; Palaeography of the Middle Ages; Early Modern Palaeography; Heraldry and Sigillography; Medieval and Early Modern Epigraphy.

In this course we will look at key moments in the Medieval history of the Czech lands. Participants will also acquire a basic understanding of the existing historical sources and the techniques used in their analysis.
1. Barbarians are coming! Slavs (and Avars) in Central Europe until 800
2. Beyond the borders of the empires: Carolingians, Moravians and Bohemians
3. Building the Duchy or creating an Empire? Churches, castles, cavalrymen and slaves
4. Constructing a holy man: St Wenceslas and his cult
5. Who could have been called Bohemian? "Accelerators" of Bohemian identity in Přemyslid Duchy
6. For the crown of the kings: Přemyslids, their politics and representation
7. Transformation of the land
8. The advent of the Luxemburg dynasty to the Czech throne.
9. The heyday of the Czech Lands during the reign of the King and Emperor Charles IV and John Henry, Margrave of Moravia
10. The waning of the Middle Ages in the Czech version
11. The Period of the Hussite wars
12. Turbulences continue...
13. Jagiellonian age in the Czech Lands

In this course, we will analyse the role of Great Moravia in the structures of contemporary Carolingian Europe from a comparative perspective, and we will also focus on its second life in later Medieval historiography and hagiography.

1) Carolingians become the kings: between the contemporary and later narratives
2) Charlemagne and his empire: government, structures, sources
3) Franks, Langobards, Bavarians and Avars: expansion of the empire
4) Franks meet Slavs: the beginnings of Moravia
5) Between Pasau, Aquileia, Rome and Byzantium: Moravians baptised
6) Elites: new definition, or new self-perception?
7) Who were the Mojmirids: comparative perspective
8) Svatopluk, king of Moravians? Between the "reality" and legend
9) Great Moravia and its second life in the Middle Ages
10) Great Moravia in modern historiography and archeology

The aim of the seminar is to acquire basic archival terminology in English. Emphasis will be placed on the ability to communicate about selected topics concerning archival theory and practice.

1. Basic archival concepts
2.-3. Individual archival activities
4.-5. The systém of archives in the Czech Republic
6. Digital archiving
7.-11. Presentation of projects
12. Contact with foreign researchers in archival practice

Under the reign Emperor Charles IV and his son King Wenceslas IV, the city on the Vltava became the largest metropolis in the region, the head of the empire (Caput Regni) and the "Golden City of Prague". This also provided the best conditions for an upswing of book illumination. Court, church and university attracted a growing author and readership. Painters and illuminators now came from all over Europe to take advantage of the flourishing situation. The artists, many of them immigrants from Silesia, Moravia, Austria, and Franconia, amalgamated native art with inspirations from Italian and French art to Bohemian variants of the so-called "International Style". Since the exchange was lively, Bohemian influences spread all over Europe: Prague had taken on a position as important as Paris, Avignon or Bologna. The exercise provides an overview of this era by means of exemplary case studies. In addition, it introduces the necessary knowledge of terminology and the technique of book illumination.

The course will provide an opportunity to study the history of patrons, writers and artists, but also deepen the knowledge about book production and crafts in the Bohemian lands during the reigns of Charles IV and Wenceslas IV.

In the field of book illumination, Prague was equally important as Paris, Avignon or Bologna at the times of the Luxembourg Kings – especially during the era of King Wenceslas IV. As it was the seat of the Holy Roman Emperor it had become an important voice in Europe, not only concerning intellectual discourse, but also its internationally recognized art. Until 1419, when Wenceslas died and the Hussite movement became synonymous with upheaval, Bohemian book illustration was among the finest around, creating a treasure trove of templates which were to be influential long after the war.

This course will provide an opportunity to study the history of patrons, writers and artists, as well as information about book production and crafts in the Bohemian lands before the invention of the printing press. The course is also designed to widen students' codicological, iconographic and cultural-historical expertise.

The aim is to train debating skills based on subjects chosen from newspaper articles or academic publications. The panoply of subjects is wide and will not only be subject to the interests of the tutor: topics such as Czech and Austrian relations, the German or Austrian press,  can been touched on, as well as political matters of the day or cultural and economic issues. The tutorial focuses on the oral participation of all students, who are encouraged to participate in a collegial atmosphere.

1-3: University studies in the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.
4.-6: Politics in the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.
7.-9: Economics in Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.
10.-13.: Discussion on free-based topics chosen by the students.

Based on German conversation I, students will have the chance to improve on their discussion skills. In addition to freely chosen topics, participants will be confronted by standard situations in German conversation. The aim is to train and expand German oral speech with the help of  issues chosen from newspaper articles or academic publications. The panoply of subjects is wide and will not only be subject to the interests of the tutor: topics such as Czech and Austrian relations, the German or Austrian press, can been touched on,  as well as political matters of the day, or cultural and economic issues.

1-3: The Czech Republic, Germany and Austria: mass-media perception of the neighbours.
4.-6: One or several German languages?
7.-9: The German of economists and lawyers.
10.-13.: Discussion on topics selected by students.