Week 2: Medieval and Renaissance Vienna

Emperor Maximilian I on horseback

As we discussed in class, the Habsburg family ruled in the Austrian lands in various capacities for more than six centuries. Maximilian I was the ruler who made the family a global power through his own strategic marriages and by marrying his children ands grandchildren into the most powerful dynasties of Europe. He was also a self-styled " knight" and loved pomp, military regalia and splendid feasts. He was also great patron of the arts, commissioning works from the likes of Rubens and Durer. 

A HUGE repository of information on the Habsburg Dynasty from all centuries can be found 

HERE at THE WORLD OF THE HABSBURGS (site in English and German)

Below are a few video clips relating to these topics and to the topics of medieval and Renaissance Vienna! Take special note of the Smart History Videos. You can peruse the complete list of these excellent short art history videos HERE at the Kahn Academy website.

Albrecht Durer- The Large Piece of Turf  (Smart History Videos)

Albrecht Durer: Woodcuts and Engraving (Smart History Videos)

Maximilian I's jousting armor being x-rayed (short clip)

The Tomb of Maximilian I at Innsbruck

Music commissioned by Maximilian I

Smithsonian Video on "What Happened to the Habsburgs"-- hint hint: Marrying your uncle may not be the best idea!

The interior of St Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) in Vienna

ON ST STEPHAN'S CATHEDRAL

Short clip on St. Stephen's Cathedral (Rick Steves) 

Short clip on St.Stephen's Cathedral (Hello Austria series)

St. Stephen's: The Living Cathedral (trailer) Full film available HERE at Amazon 

Pummerin (Big Boomer) the Bell of the Cathedral gets a new clapper

TEXTS ON VIENNA TO DOWNLOAD at PDFS

Chapters I and II from Edward Cruikshank's fabulous book "The Habsburgs" (purchase the book HERE)

Brief Section from Leonard B. Glick's book on the Medieval European Jews in the German Lands "Abraham's Heirs" (purchase book HERE)

Selections from Paul Hofmann's "The Viennese: Splendor, Twilight, Exile" (purchase the book HERE)

Selections from Nicholas Parson's "Vienna: A Cultural History" (purchase the book HERE)

Please take note  that the Cruikshank and Hofmann books are available for as little as a penny on Amazon! Glick's book is an excellent introduction to the topic of Medieval Jewry, and (in my opinion) the Parson's book is the very best compact history on the city of Vienna yet written.