Historian bridges Austria, Croatia with Korčula’s medieval story
The Split-based Književni krug has published a book by Austrian historian Fabian Kümmeler titled "Korčula: Rural Lifeworlds and Communities in Venetian Dalmatia (1420–1499)".
The author's interest in the island is based on research conducted in the archives of Dubrovnik, Venice, and Austria, which enabled him to describe various aspects of the rural history of Korčula in the 15th century, during the period of Venetian rule, in a new way, the publisher states.
Kümmeler analyses the concept of Korčulan rural communities, and their administrative and governance systems, CE Report quotes HINA.
Particular emphasis is placed on the authorities’ relationship with rural lifeworlds, the role of rural officials as guardians of order, and the social and cultural practices of village communities.
The book explores the everyday life of Korčula’s rural communities, with special attention given to marriage, issues surrounding extramarital relationships, regulatory systems in cases of disputes, and the legal credibility of the community.
The book also provides a comparison between the professional activities of shepherds and their rights, and describes the seasonal division of labour and the hardships faced by this segment of the island population, such as livestock theft, pasture damage, and other issues.
The book was first published in 2020 in Vienna in German, and the Croatian translation was done by author and translator Ivica Duhović Žaknić.
Kümmeler studied medieval and modern history, musicology, peace studies, and security policy in Bonn, Haifa, and Hamburg. In 2018, he obtained his doctorate from the University of Vienna with a dissertation on the lifeworlds of rural communities in Venetian Dalmatia.
