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Late medieval visionary Women's IMPact in early modern Castilian spiritual Tradition

Project description

The role of women in the development of European history

Women have always played a pivotal role in shaping societies. While this feminine influence is acknowledged in history, questions remain about the conditions under which women in premodern times were able to have an impact on the political, social, intellectual and religious issues of their time. In this context, the EU-funded WIMPACT project will review the manuscripts and early printed books about or written by European Late Medieval Mystic Women (13th -14th centuries) in Spanish Castile in the premodern period. The project will also evaluate the impact of those writings in the Castilian religious communities affected by Ximénez Cisneros Observant reform and, secondly, by the Carmelite reform.

Objective

WIMPACT has two main objectives. In the first place, make an exhaustive research gathering the manuscripts and early printed books on/by European Late Medieval Mystic Women (13th-14th cc.) present in Castile in the premodern period (second half 15th c.-early 16th c.) and catalogue them. In the second place, evaluate the impact that those writings had, firstly, in the Castilian religious communities affected by Ximénez Cisneros Observant reform (1492-1517) and, secondly, in the Carmelite reform, accomplished by major literary figures as Teresa de Ávila and Juan de la Cruz (second half 16th c.).

The first aim will be achieved by making an in-depth search in catalogues and directly in convent libraries of Castile and other institutions with keep collections related with female monasticism. In doing this, the ER will use his philological expertise combined not only to correctly classify the books, but also to understand them in a specific reception context. The results of this first phase will be accessible by the scientific community by creating an ad hoc open access webpage. The second aim will be achieved by implementing an interdisciplinary methodology which also departs from the comparative philology, but which uses tools of different fields (especially, gender studies, sociology and religious studies) to interpret the impact of those writings had in premodern Castile.

The relevance of WIMPACT for Horizon 2020 is twofold: in the first place, it implies a comprehensive, transnational perception of the cultural history of Europe, which crosses traditionally established national and chronologic boundaries. In the second, it studies the empowerment of women, their subsequent influence in the politics of the Castilian court and the role that they had in the Observant reforms undertaken in the period. Consequently, WIMPACT will provide a novel, deeper picture of the importance of the role of women in the development of European history.

Coordinator

HEINRICH-HEINE-UNIVERSITAET DUESSELDORF
Net EU contribution
€ 174 806,40
Address
UNIVERSITAETSSTRASSE 1
40225 Dusseldorf
Germany

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost
€ 174 806,40