Lyndal Roper (Emeritus Regius Professor of History at Oxford University): "The German Peasants' War as a Moment of Rupture"

Abstract: 
Rupture is a very useful concept through which to think about different types of change. First I'll explore the sheer extent of destruction wrought on convents and monasteries during the Peasants' War, which we traced for the first time in our project (Bergold, Gauthier, Roper, Wareham), and which is a rupture in religious practice and political power. Without understanding the profundity of this destruction, the project argues that we can't understand the Counter Reformation. Next I'll consider rupture within the family, examining the psychological tensions between Philip of Hesse and Georg of Saxony, which had to be bridged so they could unite against the peasants. Finally I'll consider the rupture between the former East and West Germany, and how this affected - and still affects - commemoration.

A catered drinks reception will be held following Professor Roper's lecture.