Austro-Hungarian Jewry: 1772-1916

Catalog description

This course will explore the encounter of the Habsburg Empire with its various Jewish communities from the expansion of the Habsburg Empire in 1772 to the collapse of the Empire in 1918. We will investigate themes central to Jewish identity in Austro-Hungary, such as nationalism and patriotism, religion and aesthetics. As we proceed, we will combine a number of historical methods and use a diverse set of materials. We will examine secondary historical accounts to give a clearer idea of the general picture, which will be combined with original texts and artifacts, the voices of those who lived and experienced the period themselves.