Recent Trends in the Medieval History Studies (2013–2014)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to review the academic writings on medieval history published by Korean scholars in 2013 and 2014. Although the historiography regarding the periodization of medieval history remains debated, the era generally is divided into three periods: the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages. This paper assesses research articles and books on political, economic, social, cultural, and church history, aiding in the analysis of the outcomes and significance of this research.BR Based on this review, the following conclusions can be drawn. First, although insufficient research on the Early Middle Ages was conducted in the past, the number of articles on this period has increased during the past two years. Secondly, scholars have attempted to pioneer new fields of study and to uncover novel historical sources, helping to broaden the field of western medieval history. Finally, many scholars have sought to reinterpret established theories, particularly the conventional Eurocentric view of medieval history.BR Similarly, scholars have contributed to expanding the study of medieval history in Korea for past two years and actively interacted with foreign scholars. These international academic exchanges encourage Korean researchers to develop their research activities at the international level.