The Digital Middle Ages
Lecture series organised by the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies in the winter semester 2026/27
The Middle Ages are going digital. Whether it’s TikTok, Instagram or AI: the technological changes in our world are also reshaping our view of the Middle Ages. New areas of research, new ways of accessing sources such as charters and seals, but also new possibilities for manipulation and entertainment through digital tools and access methods are the focus of this lecture series. A diverse programme – ranging from the Staufer Emperor Frederick Barbarossa to the enigmatic Voynich Manuscript and digital city tours of Würzburg – invites you to come and listen.
| 20 October 2026 | Manuel Kamenzin (Würzburg) From the banks of the Saleph to TikTok? The reception of Barbarossa as a guide through a digital Middle Ages |
| 27 October 2026 | Aurelia Brandenburg ( Bern) Nothing but plague, mud and violence? Imagining the Middle Ages in the context of digital games |
| 3 November 2026 | Stefan Aumann/Ulrich Ritzerfeld (Marburg) Discovering and researching medieval history: digital, integrated, networked. The example of the Hesse Regional History Information System (LAGIS) |
| 10 November 2026 | Regina Toepfer ( Würzburg) Frankfurt – Braunschweig – Würzburg. Digital walks through medieval towns (Please note: different venue: University of Würzburg, Sanderring, Lecture Theatre 318) |
| 17 November 2026 | Julia Becker ( Würzburg) Digital papal regesta. A new research platform on the Alexandrian Schism (1159–1177) |
| 24 November 2026 | Jürgen Hermes ( Cologne) Between magic and mathematics – digital approaches to historical ciphers |
| 1 December 2026 | Noah Baumann/Vivien Baumert ( Berlin) Digital research into coats of arms: the Digital Heraldry Research Environment and the construction of female identity |
| 8 December 2026 | Hans-Günter Schmidt (Würzburg) Digitisation in libraries – joys and frustrations from the practice at Würzburg University Library |
| 15 December 2026 | Stefan Tomasek ( Würzburg) From parchment to pixels: OCR and the Middle High German Christmas story |
| 12 January 2027 | Eric Burkart ( Trier) Crowdsourcing, sword fighting, videography: Towards a dynamic approach to medieval studies, combining performative source interpretation, digital text editing and public history |
| 19 January 2027 | Miriam Montag-Erlwein (Würzburg) Deceptively real – The portrayal of the Middle Ages in AI-generated videos on TikTok |
| 26 January 2027 | Miriam Weiss (Saarbrücken) Between Facts and Fiction – When Artificial Intelligence Writes History |
Time and place
The lecture series takes place every Tuesday at 7.00 pm at the Burkardushaus (Am Bruderhof 1). (Please note: NOT at the Neue Universität this term!!!) The exception is the lecture on 10 November, which will take place in Lecture Theatre 318 at the Neue Universität (Sanderring 2).
No registration is required. Admission is free.
It is possible to attend the lecture series online:
Link to the Zoom meeting (Digital Middle Ages lecture series)
Meeting ID: 628 0731 3301
Password: 290738
Note:
When participating online, you have the option to enable AI-generated subtitles in German or other languages. This means you can follow the lecture in your preferred language even if you do not speak German. No guarantee is given as to the completeness or accuracy of the translation or transcription.
Credit transfer for the degree programme
The lecture series can be credited towards your degree. Please note the information regarding credit allocation.
Organisation and Contact Details
Prof. Dr Benjamin Müsegades and Dr Manuel Kamenzin
Chair of Regional History (Franconian History in the Middle Ages and Modern Times)
