Controversial Terminology
Chris Jones|Christoph Mauntel|Klaus Oschema
In recent years, research on the concept of ‘empire’ has seen an upswing interest in both Political Science and History. Definitions abound, as they do for words such ‘discourse’, ‘performance’ ‘culture’. Countless books edited volumes concerning questions have been published since turn century. On most general level, however, majority studies tend to neglect European Middle Ages. Medievalists continue associate Latin terms imperium imperator primarily with (Holy) Roman Empire. A closer examination existing material vernacular languages reveals that many late medieval authors were far from limited their use imperial terminology. This introductory essay establishes historiographical context exploration this terminology it was employed West two instances. The first is self-designation, cases where rulers explicitly adopted or avoided language empire referring themselves realms. second by Europe describe characterise distant foreign regions world.
Medieval History Journal