Pro refrigerio animae: Death and Memory in East-Central Europe: 14th - 19th Centuries

This edited collection of studies by international scholars examines attitudes and discourses on death, commemorative practices, and inheritance/testamentary strategies in the Balkans and East-Central Europe, comparing them to imperial-Ottoman and Habsburg legacies. It provides a wealth of primary and secondary material in English translation, making research on death and testaments by East-Central and Greek scholars accessible to an international audience.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The field of historiography surrounding death, memory, and testamentary practices is already well-established in Western Europe and a significant number of extra-European regions. However, when it comes to East-Central Europe, there exists a wealth of short studies primarily focused on the anthropological and ethnographic aspects of funeral rituals.
This edited collection, brought together by international scholars, delves into the intricate interplay of attitudes and discourses on death, commemorative practices, and inheritance/testamentary strategies in the Balkans and East-Central Europe. These themes are approached comparatively, encompassing regions such as Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, as well as areas of the former Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Austria, with a particular focus on the legacies of imperial Ottoman and Habsburg empires.
Pro refrigerio animae: Death and Memory in East-Central Europe makes a valuable contribution to this field by:
1. Bridging the gap between anthropological, religious, and cultural perspectives on death and the legal and economic aspects of inheritance and commemoration.
2. Adding a much-needed East-Central European and Habsburg, Balkan, and Ottoman dimension to the study of death, memorialization, and testaments, which has been relatively overlooked in the past.
3. Providing a wealth of primary and secondary material in English translation, making research on death and testaments by East-Central and Greek scholars accessible to an international scholarly audience.

In conclusion, this edited collection offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the complex themes of death, memory, and testamentary practices in the Balkans and East-Central Europe. By bringing together scholars from various regions and disciplines, it sheds light on the diverse ways in which these practices have evolved and been shaped by historical, cultural, and social factors. It is a valuable resource for researchers, students, and anyone interested in the study of death and its impact on societies throughout history.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032017457