Culture History of the Holy Roman Empire 1648-1806

Author: (German) Peter Klaus Hartmann, translated by Liu Xinli et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: This book is based on the independent states and independent sects in Central Europe, narrating the cultural history of the Holy Roman Empire from 1648 to 1806. It elaborates on 1) the ideal framework for the prosperity and diversity of imperial culture—the legal order of the empire, including the independence of imperial members and their extensive autonomy, the imperial governing institutions, population, society, and economy; 2) the favorable conditions for the multicultural development of the empire—the equal status of the three major sects (Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism) guaranteed by imperial law and the possibility of cultural development for minority sects; 3) the religious foundation of imperial cultural development, where differing interpretations of the Bible on the issue of icons became the starting point for the divergence between Catholic and Protestant cultures. It details all aspects of imperial culture: church architecture, art, and music; education, libraries, and literature; popular culture, folk beliefs, customs, and traditions; minority sect culture; court culture; and the development of the Enlightenment. The "Holy Roman Empire," a loose European empire of the Germanic people that lasted for about 800 years, was a decentralized state structure with diverse religious beliefs, ethnic and racial backgrounds, political tendencies, and alliances that were both bound but relaxed. Today, it is envisioned as the precursor to the European Union. From this perspective, the book has been regarded as a foundational work by the local cultural community since its publication.