Research network: Humanist Knowledge and Life Practices in Early Modern Spain

The scientific network ’Humanist Knowledge and Life Practices in Early Modern Spain’ was founded in the year 2008, following an initiative introduced by Pedro Cátedra und Christoph Strosetzki. The first meeting was held in Salamanca in January 2008, on the occasion of a workshop moderated by Pedro Cátedra. Attending this meeting, aside from Christoph Strosetzki, were the scholars Mechthild Albert, Folke Gernert, Wolfgang Matzat, Katharina Niemeyer, Bernhard Teuber and Horst Weich as representatives of German universities and research teams; while the Spanish side was represented by Emilio Blanco, Fernando Bouza, Aurora Egido and María José Vega.

On this occasion, the keystones were laid for the future collaboration of the individual researchers and their project groups and the common scientific interests of the corporate project were outlined. The scientific network organises annual scientific congresses in various Spanish and German Universities. The immensely fruitful collaboration is based on the exchange between professors, postgraduates and young junior scientists and is displayed moreover by the publication of anthologies. 

The network is dedicated to investigating the connections between knowledge, experiences and cultural practices of the early modern age and their textualization and fictionalization, while paying special attention to the constitution of the subject. Another core area is the analysis of the limitations and dialectic of legitimate and illegitimate knowledge, experts and amateurs, institutions and marginalised persons and the examination of forbidden and occult knowledge.

Cooperation partners: 

  • Mechthild Albert, Bonn
  • Emilio Blanco Gómez, Madrid (Rey Juan Carlos)
  • Pedro Cátedra García López, Girona
  • Wolfgang Matzat, Tübingen
  • Christoph Strosetzki, Münster
  • Bernhard Teuber, München
  • María José Vega, Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma)
  • Robert Folger, Heidelberg
  • Jorge García López, Girona
  • Aurora Egido, Zaragoza
  • Alberto Montaner, Zaragozer

Conferences organized by network members: 

  • Saberes humanísticos y formas de vida. Usos y abusos, Zaragoza, 15-17.12.2010. (Aurora Egido)
  • Sociabilidad y literatura en el Siglo de Oro, Bonn, 15.-17.6.2011. (Mechthild Albert)
  • Conflicto entre los saberes, Mickeln (Düsseldorf), 3.-5.11.2011. (Christoph Strosetzki)
  • Los pecados profesionales en el Renacimiento, Fundación José Antonio de Castro, Madrid, 21-22.2.2013. (Emilio Blanco)
  • Los malos saberes, Trier, 21-22.11.2013. (Folke Gernert)
  • Saberes (in)útiles: El enciclopedismo literario áureo entre acumulación y aplicación, Bonn, 20.-22.11.2014. (Mechthild Albert)
  • Saber y callar. Expurgación, autocensura y silencio cultural en la temprana edad moderna, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 16.-17.4.2015. (María José Vega)
  • Adivinos, médicos y profesores de secretos en la España áurea, Trier 9.-10.6.2016. (Folke Gernert)
  • De la magia al escepticismo: Literatura, ciencia y pensamiento en los siglos XVI y XVII, Girona, 8.-9.6.2017. (Jorge García López)
  • Ciencias de la vida y literatura en la temprana modernidad, Heidelberg, 22-23.11.2018. (Robert Folger)
  • La Autoridad de los saberes: El letrado, Münster, 24-25.9.2019. (Christoph Strosetzki)