Institute of History
Topic
Formalized communication in the Middle Ages. Gift, symbol and ritual as a tool of interaction of social groups
PhD. program
World History
Year of admission
2025
Name of the supervisor
doc. Dušan Zupka, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Arts, Comenius University Bratislava
Annotation
Formalized communication in the Middle Ages played a key role in the interaction between different social groups. Gift, symbol and ritual were essential tools for expressing power, loyalty and hierarchy. This text analyses the importance of gift-giving (gift, property, land, rank) as a means of building relationships and reinforcing mutual commitments. Symbols, including insignia and gestures, were an integral part of communication, providing a visual representation of authority and identity. Rituals, from coronations to peace treaties, functioned as formal frameworks for legitimizing power and maintaining social order. The study highlights how these elements enabled not only the exchange of material values, but also the transmission of symbolic meaning and the strengthening of cultural and political bonds. The thesis will explore this theme through a critical analysis of sources from the Hungarian, Bohemian and Polish milieus, particularly between the 10th and 14th centuries. The research also aims to use digital humanities tools in the analysis and evaluation of data in the available sources.
Prerequisite: knowledge of Slovak/Czech language, English (min. B2). Ability to work with contemporary sources in Latin. Knowledge of Hungarian, German or other world languages is an advantage.
Prerequisite: knowledge of Slovak/Czech language, English (min. B2). Ability to work with contemporary sources in Latin. Knowledge of Hungarian, German or other world languages is an advantage.