Projects / Programmes
Basic research of Slovene cultural past
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.01.00 |
Humanities |
Historiography |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H280 |
Humanities |
Local and regional history, historical geography since the Middle Ages |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 6.01 |
Humanities |
History and Archaeology |
written source, historical topography, historical geography, Slovene economic, social, cultural, political history, history of everyday life, Middle Ages, modern times, contemporary historiy
Researchers (13)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The core contents of the research program cover basic tasks from the "Natural and Cultural Heritage" program of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, which were taken up by the institure. These tasks are: the recording and publication of sources (documents, ledgers, notary books, town charters, correspondence of important people, etc.) for Slovene history since antiquity; historical topography of the Slovene lands in the Middle Ages, covering the collection, identification and placement of place names on the territory of Slovenia for the period (from antiquity) to 1500 AD; long-term oriented, partially interdisciplinary research into the economic, social, cultural and political history, history of everyday life of the Slovenes, with the aim of synthesizing the existing understanding of global themes, which are: measures, money, banking, traffic, crafts, trade, etc.; agrarian and non-agrarian conditions, feudal estates, castles, nobility, peasantry, towns and townspeople, the church, monasteries, the clergy, etc.; literacy, education, religion, the history of historiography, etc.; political relations and conditions, ethnic and other (self)identification; lifestyles, leisure, etc.
Significance for science
The programme group has importantly contributed to the development of Slovenian historical science with original scientific results. Publishing archival material implies multiplication of unique specimens of original manuscripts. It ensures easy availability and study of written remnants of the past to a greater number of domestic and foreign researchers. An edition of sources solves the chronology, identifies places and people and, coupled with aids (indexes), significantly facilitates the use of sources. In this way, it also enables comparative research for broader areas or/and periods. By publishing the Turjak charters, Slovenian historiography has obtained an indispensable aid to carry out research on Slovenian medieval and modern history. At the same time, the appendix on seals serves as an important heraldic manual and enhances the significance of the so-called auxiliary historical sciences that are nevertheless of vital importance for the development of the historiographical discipline. Critical editions of the Piran notary books of the 13th and 14th centuries, which are an invaluable genre of sources for the study of medieval and modern history by portraying the economic and social life of towns and their surroundings, administration, judicature, everyday life, demographic development, urban image, as well as culture and art provide the foundation for the research conducted by experts in various disciplines. Systematic research on historical topography has led to many corrections in both nomenclature and localisation. Special mention ought to be made of an online application that is currently being used as a trial version and that will eventually serve as a fully operational online application, developed by the programme group in collaboration with the Jožef Stefan Institute. The online application has already proved an outstanding aid for further research on Slovenian history by enhancing the availability of the results of a decades-long research, which has been upgraded in the programme work. Therefore, the results also represent a methodological contribution to the development of historical sciences. Thematically, the problems addressed by the programme group have put Slovenian historiography on a par with European historiography, thus enabling comparative studies on the European and broader level. In terms of content, the programme has struck a balance between Slovenian and (Western) European historiography in the research on economic, social, cultural history, and history of everyday life. The programme group has systematically developed the following areas that, for various reasons and preferences of historiography in the past, did not receive broad support from Slovenian historiography or personal representation: genealogy and basic historical sciences, the history of the health care system and other state subsystems, the history of diplomacy and the history of the First World War. In addition, it has also introduced innovative readings of the past, the use of different methodological and interdisciplinary approaches as well as digitised publishing of results in the areas acknowledged in Slovenian historiography as fundamental, thus enabling regular familiarisation of scholarly and other interested public with the findings of scientific research. Said achievements have made the programme group a reference research point for many areas of historiography. The group has actualised many research questions and raised the awareness in the professional public of the importance of cultural heritage and its preservation. The entire work of the programme group has aimed towards an integrated treatment of set scholarly questions to enrich the overall knowledge of human history with new knowledge on the Slovenian territory and national community, as well as the embeddedness of said territory and its past in the broader European area.
Significance for the country
During the time when everything seems to be in pursuit of globalisation, the research on Slovenian past is of utmost social and cultural importance: it brings new knowledge on who we are and why, it preserves national consciousness and historical memory, as well as broadens the knowledge of the world in which we live and our roles in it. Such understanding enables the citizens and the state of Slovenia to equally and confidently participate in world society and culture. With its fundamental mission and research results, the proposed programme has promoted the Slovenian state by placing it on a par with European countries that have already enriched the treasuries of their achievements with similar research. The research programme has shown Slovenia to be Europe in miniature, with its territory featuring all kinds of historical processes and phenomena that are characteristic of Europe. The research results will be included in the education processes of all Slovenian universities, as half of the programme group members are habilitated and also give lectures on the questions in regard to which the programme research has served as a welcome addition – and in many cases a major improvement – to the teaching contents under discussion. The economic development greatly benefits from the research in that the latter often touches upon the history of economic branches. In doing so, it facilitates the understanding of the level of development of a certain economic branch in the country and eliminates the possibility of repeating past mistakes or, in other words, points to economic flows that were once taken completely for granted. With exhibitions and the cycle of round tables “Gradovi na razpotju” [“Castles at a Crossroads”], which are also available online, the programme group established a direct contact with the broader public, informing it of the importance of preserving and protecting tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
