Past and future

This volume evinces the vitality and multi-perspectivism characteristic of Medieval Studies today. There was a time, not so long ago, when Medieval Studies constituted a major pillar for the understanding of the history of human civilization. Today, things are different. While the medieval contribution to the project of humanity remains beyond doubt, the challenges facing those interested in history have changed definitively. Currently, different responses to the new situation are under discussion, each with its own potential and challenges: e.g., global medievalism, digital humanities, comparative history, rethinking the cultural narrative. In this volume, specialists from the fields of Digital Humanities, History, Literary Studies, Philosophy, and Theology share with the readers their views about the possible futures of Medieval Studies. They evince the vitality and multi-perspectivism characteristic of the field today, showing that Medieval Studies looks to a future that, while different from the past, promises to be at least as rich and creative. The papers collected here were first presented and discussed at the 6th European Congress of Medieval Studies of the Fédération Internationale des Instituts d'Etudes Médiévales (FIDEM), which was held at the University of Basel, Switzerland, 2-5 September 2018.