Review of the Research Institute for History and - Universiteit Utrecht

A. Documentation regarding the level of the research programme
Title of the programme:
Ancient and Medieval Cultures
Starting date:
1994
Research Area and mission:
Social and political history, literary history, art history, music history.
Programme leader:
Prof. M.B. de Jong
Affi liations outside the institute (e.g. research school) and other
cooperations and relations with national and international research groups:
Netherlands Research School for Medieval Studies
National Graduate School in Classical Studies (OIKOS)
A 1. Leadership
With its 20,7 fte this is the largest group within OGC. It consists of 6 full
professors, 4 associate professors, 10 assistant professors, 10 Postdocs and 15 PhDstudents.
The programme has been coordinated by prof. Mayke de Jong, in close
cooperation with other chair holders and senior faculty. The chairs of Ancient
History and Medieval Dutch – presently prof. Josine Blok and prof. Paul Wackers
– play a prominent role in the project group’s research policy. These three scholars,
all with an excellent international reputation, represent particularly strong fi elds
within the project group: early medieval and ancient history, and later medieval
Dutch literature respectively. In 2002 prof. Frits van Oostrom was appointed
University Professor in Utrecht. Even if he is not a formal member of the programme,
it profi ts from his presence and his good advice.
The medievalists have a long tradition of joint teaching as a way of ex ploring
new research topics; such long-term joint teaching ventures have also contributed
to the integration of Ancient History into the predominantly medievalist
group. Another centripetal force is the Utrecht Centre of Medieval Studies (UCMS),
founded in 2000. The Board of UCMS is consciously recruited from the nonprofessorial
ranks. UCMS has become the face of Utrecht Medieval Studies
abroad, but it also helps to pull together the Utrecht medievalists by organizing
internal workshops.
A 2. Strategy and policy
Broadness, and how to retain it.
Ancient and Medieval Cultures is a lively group, with a broad range re chronology
and disciplines. Six chairs participate in the research programme (Ancient
History, Medieval History, Medieval Music, Medieval Art, Medieval Latin and
Celtic Studies), along with readers in Medieval French and English. When it comes
to strategy and policy, retaining this broadness is a top priority. This is also necessary
in view of maintaining the quality and attractiveness of the ‘Prestige Master’ in
Medieval Studies (‘Prestige Masters’ is a distinction awarded by Utrecht University
to Research MA’s with a strong international profi le and potential).
Legacies, reorientation and the future
The period under review started with the legacy of a successful research programme,
which had been envisaged as a pyramid. At its base, there was the essential activity of
OGC Ancient and Medieval Cultures
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