About the centre
The Centre for Medieval Studies aims to create a scientific environment for the exchange of knowledge and discussions of methods and theories, and to an extent that it is attractive for external researchers to be involved in the centre.
The activities of the centre include symposia, seminars and research courses led by researchers from all of Scandinavia and further afield. Activities are constantly developed through targeted projects implemented by separate researchers or groups of researchers in cooperation. The centre regularly collaborates with several institutions in Sweden and abroad to develop new courses on master and PhD level.
The centre brings together researchers of the Middle Ages working within many different disciplines and also institutions from outside of the university: archaeology, economic history, philosophy, history, art history, human geography, quaternary science, literature, musicology, physical geography, numismatics, history of religions, theatre studies, and a number of languages such as French, Greek, Italian, Latin, Scandinavian languages and German. The focus of research is Europe and the relationship of Sweden/Scandinavia to Europe, but connections with other cultural areas are also considered.
The researchers and PhD students are also particularly active nationally and internationally within research policy institutions, editorial committees, research exchanges and actively participate in the development of joint research projects.
Since its founding in 2008, the centre has received economic support from Marcus Wallenberg Foundation for International Scientific Collaboration, Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation, Torsten Söderberg Foundation, Ragnar Söderberg Foundation, The Swedish Research Council, Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation, Åke Winberg Foundation and the faculty of humanities at Stockholm University.
Medieval research: then, now and ahead
The interdisciplinary medieval research in Stockholm started during the 1960s when seminars were held with participants from the disciplines of archaeology, history, art history and human geography At the beginning of the 1970s representatives from different language subjects primarily Scandinavian languages and Latin, joined. At this early stage, close cooperation with the capitals learned institution was fostered. There had been an extensive accumulation of knowledge pertinent to the study of the Middle Ages which had taken place at the national archive (Diplomatarium Suecanum, Medieval Sweden DMS, Medieval Book Fragments MPO), The Swedish National Heritage Board (the Ancient Monument Inventory, the Churches of Sweden, The Medieval Town) National Library of Sweden (the Manuscript Department) and The Swedish Mapping, Cadastral and Land Registration Authority.
The cooperation was formalised with the formation of the centre in 2008. Researchers work with diverse subjects within the medieval field. For example, topics include the vocabulary of the old languages, theories of the objectives and means of politics, use of images and artefacts, the colloquial language of 15th century Stockholm, the view of literary fiction, liturgical poetry, translation between different languages, theories of scientific aims, ideological messages of chronicles, the relationship between the spoken and written word, monastic discipline, satire critical of religion, patronage of art, functions of buildings, the composition of manuscripts and resources of the cultural landscape and their use.
The centre of Medieval studies is in a unique position for further development. Stockholm University is the largest in Scandinavia and the centre is the largest of its kind in Scandinavia, measured in the number of researchers and subjects. During the years it has developed frequent and continuous collaborations with a wide range of different universities. For international medieval research, Sweden and Scandinavia is of particular interest because of their geographical position and late Christianising can constitute an important test case in comparative discussions of centre and periphery in the development of culture.
Organisation and Board
The Centre for medieval studies’ board determines the activities and direction of the centre. The board consists of seven members including the chairman. The director of the centre, with the help of the secretary and administrator, manages the day-to-day operations.
Centre Director:
Kurt Villads Jensen
Secretary:
Fraser Miller
Board:
Chairman Henrik Lagerlund, Department of Philosophy.
Erika Kihlman, Department of Romance studies and Classics.
Claes Gejrot, Riksarkivet.
Pia Bengtsson Melin, The Swedish History Museum.
Nanouschka Myrberg Burström, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies.
Carin Franzén, Department of Culture and Aesthetics.
Emma Maltin, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies.
Minutes from board meetings and activity reports (in Swedish) can be found under the heading "styrdokument" here.
The medieval council
The centre organises the medieval council two times annually. The purpose of the council is to be a recurring forum for exchange of knowledge and information between different institutions and authorities working with medieval research in the Stockholm area.
Minutes from council meetings (in Swedish) can be found under the heading "styrdokument" here
The medieval seminar
The Centre for medieval studies organises the interdisciplinary medieval seminar at the Department of History. The seminar offers a platform for cooperation between different disciplines and gives opportunities for scholars to present new publications, projects and ongoing research. Presentations are held in Swedish or English depending on the subject and speaker. The seminars are open to the public and no sign-up is needed.
Seminars are held on Mondays 15.00-17.00. Until further notice seminars are held via zoom as well as in room D900. The latest information can be found on our Facebook page and through our email-list. Sign up to the list by emailing sekreterare@medeltid.su.se.
Find more information about upcoming seminars in our Calendar
Research
The field of medieval studies is broad, both in terms of subjects and themes. Medieval studies are conducted within more than 15 subjects both as doctoral- and postdoctoral projects as well as projects by senior researchers. Currently, there are close to 20 doctoral students with medieval subjects and even more researchers. The themes are broad: Linguistic studies regarding medieval translation practice, syntax, lexicography, diplomatics, palaeography, editorial philology; literary and philosophical examinations of medieval fiction theory, prose and poetry, logic, theology and political thought; studies of medieval crafts, art theory and architecture, studies of the medieval landscape, its organisation and the utilisation of material resources.
Researchers
Researchers
Roger Andersson, Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism
Anders Bengtsson, Department of Romance Studies and Classics, Italian
Johan Berg, Department of Human Geography
Nanouschka Myrberg Burström, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies
Michele Colombo, Department of Romance Studies and Classics, Italian
Bo Eriksson, Department of History
Claes Gejrot, National Archives
Kurt Villads Jensen, Department of History
Gwendolyne Knight Keimpema, Department of History
Erika Kihlman, Department of Romance Studies and Classics, Latin
Magnus Källström, Swedish National Heritage Board
Henrik Lagerlund, Department of Philosophy
Anthony John Lappin, Department of Romance Studies and Classics, Spanish
Gabriela Bjarne Larsson, Department of History
Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist, Department of History
Pia Bengtsson Melin, The Swedish History Museum
Inka Moilanen, Department of History
Elisabeth Wåghäll Nivre, Department of Slavic and Baltic Studies Finnish Dutch and German
Margaretha Nordquist, Department of History
Jonatan Pettersson, Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism
Tina Rodhe, Medeltidsmuseet
Martin Neuding Skoog, Försvarshögskolan
Mia Ahlbäck Åkestam, Department of Culture and Aesthetics
Emeriti
Anders Andrén, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies
Ann-Catherine Bonnier, Department of Culture and Aesthetics
Olle Ferm, Department of History
Bo Franzén, Department of Economic History and International Relations
Inger Larsson, Department of Swedish Language and Multilingualism
Guest Researchers
Gustav Zamore, Cambridge, 2018-2021
Benjamin Weber, Toulouse, 2019-2020
Felicitas Schmieder, FernUni Hagen, 2018-2019
Nora Berend, Cambridge University, 2018-2019
Christian Etheridge, Copenhagen University, 2016
Doctoral students
Anna Andréasson Sjögren, Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens kultur
Emma Maltin, Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens kultur
Anton Larsson, Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens kultur
Tori Falck, Institutionen för arkeologi och antikens kultur
Jessica Fröberg, Institutionen för kultur och estetik
Karin Tetteris, Institutionen för kultur och estetik
Kim Bergqvist, Historiska Institutionen
Karl Lysén, Historiska Institutionen
Fraser Miller, Historiska Institutionen
Thomas Neijman, Historiska Institutionen
Per Gunnar Sidén, Historiska institutionen
Olov Lund, Institutionen för ekonomisk historia och internationella relationer
Guido Rey Alt, Filosofiska institutionen
Publications
A compilation of publications by researchers connected to the Center for Medieval Studies can be found via DiVA.
Medieval Studies at SU
The Centre for Medieval studies at Stockholm University is a research centre and does not arrange courses independently. However, the centre co-operates with several departments at the university and works for more courses with medieval themes. On the Swedish site, we have compiled lists with medieval courses at different departments at the University. There you can also find more information about the Master program in medieval studies which is held in swedish.
Find more information (in swedish) under the heading "Studera medeltiden vid SU" here: Om centrat
Find medieval courses at Stockholm University by searching the course catalouge here: Find courses and programmes
Contact
Professor
- Visiting address
Room D998
Universitetsvägen 10 D, Level 9
- Visiting address
Universitetsvägen 10 D, Level 9
- Visiting address
D974
Universitetsvägen 10 D, Level 9
Last updated: August 14, 2023
Source: Department of History