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The Transformation of perception of vampire in Western culture from early modern period to present : The Assessment of marginal cultural phenomenon in terms of civilization theory of Norbert Elias
Konečná, Zuzana ; Horský, Jan (advisor) ; Šubrt, Jiří (referee)
The thesis deals with the transformation of perception of vampire in Western culture from early modern period to present. The vampire in modern Western culture is very popular and has an unwavering place. Vampires are now attractive and basically not dangerous. The subject of this work is question whether it was so in previous centuries. Work present the change in appearance and character, both fictional character and "real vampires." Based on the analysis of selected fictional works (literary and visual) from the late 18th century, when the vampire came to Western fiction, work shows how gradually transforms the image that this supernatural beings attributes in West. An essential part of how culture perceives certain phenomenon is a belief in it. Therefore I am interested in how the West over time explaining this phenomenon. Work also introduces the Norbert Elias's civilization theory. Analysis of transformation in the perception of a vampire in Western culture follows it's tracks and the results are compared with it with the goal to give answer on question whether this phenomenon is turning into the terms of this theory.
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Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel and the Zohar
Kohoutová, Kamila ; Nosek, Bedřich (advisor) ; Holubová, Markéta (referee) ; Visi, Tamás (referee)
This thesis deals with the intellectual heritage of Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the Maharal of Prague and with his affiliation to the Kabbalah. The Kabbalah sprang up amongst Jewish scholars of 12th century Spain and reached its apex in the composition of the Zohar. This study shows the ways the Maharal used the Zohar and to what end. First chapter deals with the life and writings of the Maharal. The second summarises previous attempts to describe the Maharal's affinity for Jewish mysticism. The third chapter describes how the Zohar was written. It includes a textological comparison, which aims to find which edition or group of manuscripts of the Zohar the Maharal used. It also makes note of the special form of zoharic Aramaic that is present in the Maharal's writings. The fourth chapter raises the question of halakhic authority of the Zohar in the 15th and 16th centuries. Three main chapters of this thesis provide analysis and commentary of chosen zoharic texts (Zohar III,152a, Zohar III,40a, Zohar I,18a a Zohar I,33b) quoted by the Maharal in his writings and with their theological reflection. Zohar III,152a speaks about different layers of meaning implied in the text of the Torah. This chapter deals with the basic development of Jewish hermeneutics and attempts to find Maharal's place in it....
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The Testamentary Practice in Jihlava in the Years 1578 - 1624 (Wills as Sources for the History of Family Structures, Historical Demography and Sociotopography)
Jirková, Pavla ; Maur, Eduard (advisor) ; Horský, Jan (referee) ; Sulitková, Ludmila (referee)
THESIS ABSTRACT The subject of the research - the Early Modern burgher will - is viewed in the thesis from the standpoint of family structures, historical demography and sociotopography. The sample of 968 Jihlava wills from the period 1578-1624 were subjected to statistical analysis. Moreover, from a methodological perspective the nature of this research is similar to micro-historical and prosopographical approaches. The aforementioned theme was compared to conclusions of the literature concerning historical demography and family structures (especially English) as well as foreign sociological and anthropological studies. The results of this research were evaluated from the point of view of the annual number of wills as possible indicators of the chief trends in mortality, and possible connections were traced between the number of children named in the testaments and the inheritance system. Given the numerous marriage contracts concluded by testators, the study also looked into the "marriage market" and the duration of marriages. Other questions discussed in the thesis include, for example, family and household positions, disabled people, gender studies and intergenerational property transfer. Finally, in terms of the sociotopographical study, the houses of sorted testators were located within the framework...
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The abbesses of St. George's Convent in Prague and the coronations of the queens of Bohemia
Pacovský, Karel ; Zdichynec, Jan (advisor) ; Bobková, Lenka (referee)
This Bachelor thesis analyzes the coronations of the queens of Bohemia, putting emphasis on the presence of abbesses of St. George's Convent of Benedictine nuns in Prague Castle. It follows this phenomenon throughout its whole history, from the first Bohemian coronation in 1085 to the last in 1836, and thus covers a long period from the Middle Ages through the early modern period to the threshold of the modern era. The aim is to clarify the origins, development and changes of the task of the St. George's abbesses during the coronation ceremonies in Prague, which has no parallel anywhere else in Europe. It also endeavors to identify the particular abbesses who participated in each coronation, find details from their lives, and outline the general state of St. George's Convent at that time. It uses primarily the testimonies of original sources of various types, such us annals, chronicles, coronation ordines, descriptions of the coronations, charters, diaries, gravestones, and iconographic sources. The research shows that the role of the abbesses at the coronations changed throughout the centuries; while in the Middle Ages it occurred principally in the accompaniment of the queen, the abbess later participated together with the archbishop of Prague and the supreme burgrave of the Kingdom of Bohemia...
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"And these soldiers have come to us..." The town of Slaný during the Thirty Years War as seen through the papers of its municipal government.
Kmochová, Romana ; Hojda, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Ďurčanský, Marek (referee)
During the Thirty Years War the life of the inhabitants of Central Bohemian Town Slaný was (like the life in other central European towns in this period) mainly influenced by soldiers and various war events. Nevertheless, many changes in their lives were brought by the pawn and subsequent sale of the town to nobleman Jaroslav Bořita z Martinic. This thesis is mainly focused on the municipal administration, especially on war events impacts on the town government and also on the new elements in municipal administration related to the change of its legal status, respectively on encroachment of the new manorial lords on the municipal administration. It also deals with mechanisms used by municipal officials (authorities) to protect the lives and property of town's inhabitant against the rampage soldiery. It is not omitted the interactions occurred between the townspeople and soldiers including self-preserving mechanisms and adaptation strategies that allow them cope with soldiers presence as well.
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King Pest and his theatre Prague. Plague epidemics in early modern-period Prague.
Jarošová, Eva ; Šedivá Koldinská, Marie (advisor) ; Mikulec, Jiří (referee)
In 1348 the plague struck Europe and held it in its grip until the 18th century. The Czech lands were no exception, although regular outbreaks are not reported until after 1348. The disease was caused by yersinia pestis bacteria and transmitted primarily by the common rat. It took three different forms: pneumonic, septicemic, and bubonic. The year 1348 marked the most significant outbreak of the pandemic, referred to as the Black Death. However, the infection did not spread significantly to Prague and Bohemia until 1380. The societal crisis caused by the Black Death is reflected in art, particularly the so called Dance of Death and Triumph of Death paintings. Plague columns associated with the cult surrounding anti-plague saints became common sights in Bohemia. St. Maria was universally revered. St. Sebastian, St. Rocco, and St. Rosalie were invoked specifically for protection against the plague. Individual countries also sought protection from their national patrons, such a St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. In Bohemia, the plague is more commonly associated with modern rather than medieval times. Outbreaks recurred roughly every twelve years. In an effort to curb the epidemic, plague orders were enacted. These documents provided for quarantine measures, the closing of borders, the...
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History of Sword Making in Prague Cities in Early Modern Period
Smrž, Jiří ; Ebelová, Ivana (advisor) ; Woitschová, Klára (referee)
(in English): This bachelor thesis follows the history of sword making from the beginning of 16th century to 1739 in three independent Prague towns - in Old Town, New Town and Lesser Town. Prague sword makers were organised in craft organisations - in guilds, therefore is this thesis closely connected with the history of guilds as well. Sword making represents much specialised craft, which emancipated during the Middle Ages from blacksmith thanks to the extraordinary consumption and distribution possibilities of Prague cities. Sword making became well developed in the second half of 15th century and this situation resulted in founding of guilds. Thanks to its dominant position during the whole examined century, the Old Town guild became the most significant guild in the Kingdom of Bohemia. This thesis corrects previous knowledge of Prague sword making, gives review of extant sources, which are deposited in Prague City Archives and in National Archives and presents reconstruction of life in the guild of Prague sword makers in early modern period based on contemporary documents.
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The reflection of childhood in Baroque miracles
Věchtová, Irena ; Sládek, Miloš (advisor) ; Matějec, Tomáš (referee)
The reflection of childhood in Baroque miracles This Master's thesis aims to capture the reflection of childhood in miraculously answered prayers of the Baroque era. It works with a representative sample of cases, which was collected from several diverse Czech and Moravian pilgrimage sites (Karlov in Prague, Church of Our Lady Victorious with the statue of Infant Jesus of Prague, Hájek, Sázava, Chlum sv. Máří, Chrudim, Dobruška, Svatý Kopeček u Olomouce, and Křtiny). The sample thus comprises children coming from various environments and social strata. The records referring to miraculous answers to prayer are taken from manuscripts as well as from printed books of the period related to religious pilgrimages. The individual chapters outline the main aspects of Baroque-era children's lives found therein. The thesis first analyses issues associated with the birth of new life - the infertility of married couples, miscarriages, or complications during pregnancy, giving birth and childbed. A significant part of the thesis is given over to childhood illnesses - an extremely serious issue of the early modern era. Attention is also paid to diverse accidents and injuries of children. In addition, matters concerning adolescent and adult offspring are presented (the world of work duties, various wrongdoings, problems...
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Midwifery of Period Called Pobelohorska Infanticide
Surá, Alexandra ; Říhová, Milada (advisor) ; Čechura, Jaroslav (referee) ; Pařízek, Antonín (referee)
I initially explored historic figures of European accoucheur of the 17. and 18. century. Beyond this I focused on a period called "Pobělohorská" in Czech countries. I summarized the health conditions of the population during this period, and described medical professions, midwifery and emergency Christening ceremonies. One chapter discusses partnerships and considers women who hid their pregnancy to avoid the prospect of caring for their children in the future. For this reason I present questions relating to how women hid their pregnancy during the Early Modern period. In the next chapter I discuss aspects of the process of giving birth, the locations where women gave birth and the moments thereafter. I present the circumstances of the death of the baby and the possible causes of death. The process of investigation of the scene, an assessment of the body and the search for the mother of the baby (as a potential murderer) are all considered. The assessment of the body was in the hands of the regional physiciusurgeon and a midwife. In my work I describe how the body was assessed, how they judged the maturity of the newborn baby and if the baby was born dead or alive. Further chapters explain the treatment of the umbilical cord, the inquisition of the witnesses and the suspect, and the next steps of...
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