I love watching the Game of Thrones whenever a new episode is released My
whenever a new episode is released My
whenever a new episode is released My partner and I make time in the evening
partner and I make time in the evening
partner and I make time in the evening to watch it seriously it is a remarkably
to watch it seriously it is a remarkably
to watch it seriously it is a remarkably well made TV series with a versatile
well made TV series with a versatile
well made TV series with a versatile well told story about some universal
well told story about some universal
well told story about some universal human passions such as the passion for
human passions such as the passion for
human passions such as the passion for power I also love history especially
power I also love history especially
power I also love history especially late medieval history from which
late medieval history from which
late medieval history from which apparently George Martin borrowed some
apparently George Martin borrowed some
apparently George Martin borrowed some of the plot elements of The Game of
of the plot elements of The Game of
of the plot elements of The Game of Thrones
Thrones
Thrones but I have bad news for you today
but I have bad news for you today
but I have bad news for you today medieval politics was not like the game
medieval politics was not like the game
medieval politics was not like the game of Thrones
of Thrones
of Thrones first for all its flavor of family drama
first for all its flavor of family drama
first for all its flavor of family drama with royalty and nobility playing a huge
with royalty and nobility playing a huge
with royalty and nobility playing a huge role medieval history was much more
role medieval history was much more
role medieval history was much more about institutions then it was about
about institutions then it was about
about institutions then it was about personalities it was about guilds city
personalities it was about guilds city
personalities it was about guilds city councils and courts of law much more
councils and courts of law much more
councils and courts of law much more than it was about kings and queens like
than it was about kings and queens like
than it was about kings and queens like Cersei or Robert Baratheon it was not
Cersei or Robert Baratheon it was not
Cersei or Robert Baratheon it was not about leaders claiming to bring change
about leaders claiming to bring change
about leaders claiming to bring change like Daenerys but about leaders
like Daenerys but about leaders
like Daenerys but about leaders pretending that nothing has changed
pretending that nothing has changed
pretending that nothing has changed indeed to call something a novelty in
indeed to call something a novelty in
indeed to call something a novelty in late medieval politics meant to say it’s
late medieval politics meant to say it’s
late medieval politics meant to say it’s a totally useless idea
a totally useless idea
a totally useless idea so leaders who wish to bring change had
so leaders who wish to bring change had
so leaders who wish to bring change had to mask change and innovation as
to mask change and innovation as
to mask change and innovation as continuity and tradition most
continuity and tradition most
continuity and tradition most importantly unlike in the game of
importantly unlike in the game of
importantly unlike in the game of Thrones in late medieval Europe the
Thrones in late medieval Europe the
Thrones in late medieval Europe the greatest devastation was brought not by
greatest devastation was brought not by
greatest devastation was brought not by wars for inheritance the Middle Ages
wars for inheritance the Middle Ages
wars for inheritance the Middle Ages ended with a conflict over ideas not
ended with a conflict over ideas not
ended with a conflict over ideas not over some kind of an Iron Throne this
over some kind of an Iron Throne this
over some kind of an Iron Throne this particular conflict was brought about by
particular conflict was brought about by
particular conflict was brought about by the quest for the moral politics I will
the quest for the moral politics I will
the quest for the moral politics I will explain in a moment what I mean but
explain in a moment what I mean but
explain in a moment what I mean but first let me try to answer a very basic
first let me try to answer a very basic
first let me try to answer a very basic question why does it matter to me
question why does it matter to me
question why does it matter to me personally that we should understand
personally that we should understand
personally that we should understand something about how late we
something about how late we
something about how late we society and politics worked this is the
society and politics worked this is the
society and politics worked this is the question many people actually asked me
question many people actually asked me
question many people actually asked me when I said I’m giving this talk I see
when I said I’m giving this talk I see
when I said I’m giving this talk I see around us today many things that remind
around us today many things that remind
around us today many things that remind me of the time when the secular states
me of the time when the secular states
me of the time when the secular states of late medieval West were declining and
of late medieval West were declining and
of late medieval West were declining and when identity politics based on religion
when identity politics based on religion
when identity politics based on religion was on the rise so I can think of at
was on the rise so I can think of at
was on the rise so I can think of at least two ways how knowing something
least two ways how knowing something
least two ways how knowing something about medieval history may help us to
about medieval history may help us to
about medieval history may help us to understand something about our politics
understand something about our politics
understand something about our politics today reason 1 our society operates on
today reason 1 our society operates on
today reason 1 our society operates on the assumption that countries are stable
the assumption that countries are stable
the assumption that countries are stable entities their borders and political
entities their borders and political
entities their borders and political institutions are more or less fixed and
institutions are more or less fixed and
institutions are more or less fixed and they have permanent representation in
they have permanent representation in
they have permanent representation in the United Nations when an international
the United Nations when an international
the United Nations when an international order which is based on States is
order which is based on States is
order which is based on States is frightened
frightened
frightened we’re overwhelmed with a sense of crisis
we’re overwhelmed with a sense of crisis
we’re overwhelmed with a sense of crisis this is because states give us a sense
this is because states give us a sense
this is because states give us a sense of security sometimes true in other
of security sometimes true in other
of security sometimes true in other cases false but they do so what can be
cases false but they do so what can be
cases false but they do so what can be more stable than a country obviously
more stable than a country obviously
more stable than a country obviously this is a delusion in each of our
this is a delusion in each of our
this is a delusion in each of our countries in Europe today there are some
countries in Europe today there are some
countries in Europe today there are some institutions that are older than the
institutions that are older than the
institutions that are older than the state many of these institutions were
state many of these institutions were
state many of these institutions were founded in the Middle Ages the
founded in the Middle Ages the
founded in the Middle Ages the University of Paris is much older than
University of Paris is much older than
University of Paris is much older than the Republic of France in its current
the Republic of France in its current
the Republic of France in its current borders not to mention its political
borders not to mention its political
borders not to mention its political institutions the University of Tartu is
institutions the University of Tartu is
institutions the University of Tartu is older than the state of Estonia the a
older than the state of Estonia the a
older than the state of Estonia the a steadily majora Hospital in Milan is
steadily majora Hospital in Milan is
steadily majora Hospital in Milan is much much older than the state of Italy
much much older than the state of Italy
much much older than the state of Italy and organized market exchanges like the
and organized market exchanges like the
and organized market exchanges like the exchange of Bruges having total existed
exchange of Bruges having total existed
exchange of Bruges having total existed much longer than the current kingdoms of
much longer than the current kingdoms of
much longer than the current kingdoms of Belgium and the Netherlands at the time
Belgium and the Netherlands at the time
Belgium and the Netherlands at the time when these institutions were created
when these institutions were created
when these institutions were created they lived in a totally different
they lived in a totally different
they lived in a totally different landscape with different political
landscape with different political
landscape with different political institutions different borders and
institutions different borders and
institutions different borders and vastly different laws so how can this
vastly different laws so how can this
vastly different laws so how can this knowledge help us well in the time of
knowledge help us well in the time of
knowledge help us well in the time of new global instability we can learn what
new global instability we can learn what
new global instability we can learn what it takes
it takes
it takes to create robust and resilient
to create robust and resilient
to create robust and resilient institutions that can serve the needs of
institutions that can serve the needs of
institutions that can serve the needs of people like the universities and
people like the universities and
people like the universities and hospitals of medieval Europe that were
hospitals of medieval Europe that were
hospitals of medieval Europe that were run by public minded collectivities of
run by public minded collectivities of
run by public minded collectivities of individuals and outlived many countries
individuals and outlived many countries
individuals and outlived many countries with their borders and laws serving the
with their borders and laws serving the
with their borders and laws serving the needs of society as it changed for an
needs of society as it changed for an
needs of society as it changed for an institution to set goals that go beyond
institution to set goals that go beyond
institution to set goals that go beyond the current national benchmarks of
the current national benchmarks of
the current national benchmarks of whatever government is in power is
whatever government is in power is
whatever government is in power is actually a good idea
actually a good idea
actually a good idea for a government to be sufficiently
for a government to be sufficiently
for a government to be sufficiently humble to recognize that some
humble to recognize that some
humble to recognize that some institutions are too important to be
institutions are too important to be
institutions are too important to be meddled with on a daily basis is an even
meddled with on a daily basis is an even
meddled with on a daily basis is an even better idea
better idea
better idea moreover we should strive to create
moreover we should strive to create
moreover we should strive to create institutions that serve the needs of
institutions that serve the needs of
institutions that serve the needs of people that could possibly outlive our
people that could possibly outlive our
people that could possibly outlive our current States reason too in our society
current States reason too in our society
current States reason too in our society and in our politics like in the politics
and in our politics like in the politics
and in our politics like in the politics of late medieval cities and
of late medieval cities and
of late medieval cities and principalities we are guided by some
principalities we are guided by some
principalities we are guided by some idea of the good life sometimes it’s a
idea of the good life sometimes it’s a
idea of the good life sometimes it’s a pretty general idea for example
pretty general idea for example
pretty general idea for example partitions think that a country with a
partitions think that a country with a
partitions think that a country with a rising GDP is much better than a country
rising GDP is much better than a country
rising GDP is much better than a country with a falling GDP but sometimes it’s a
with a falling GDP but sometimes it’s a
with a falling GDP but sometimes it’s a much more specific idea some leaders
much more specific idea some leaders
much more specific idea some leaders think that a country with stringent
think that a country with stringent
think that a country with stringent controls of migration or sexuality or
controls of migration or sexuality or
controls of migration or sexuality or religion is a much better country so in
religion is a much better country so in
religion is a much better country so in late medieval Europe in some countries
late medieval Europe in some countries
late medieval Europe in some countries some governments also had what I would
some governments also had what I would
some governments also had what I would call a fairly general and even
call a fairly general and even
call a fairly general and even materialist idea of the good life
materialist idea of the good life
materialist idea of the good life for instance peace trade and prosperity
for instance peace trade and prosperity
for instance peace trade and prosperity where the idea of the good life
where the idea of the good life
where the idea of the good life in the Netherlands in the 15th century
in the Netherlands in the 15th century
in the Netherlands in the 15th century on the one hand the world the prosperous
on the one hand the world the prosperous
on the one hand the world the prosperous cities like Gant and Bruges with their
cities like Gant and Bruges with their
cities like Gant and Bruges with their own self-government which proclaimed
own self-government which proclaimed
own self-government which proclaimed these values on the other hand the where
these values on the other hand the where
these values on the other hand the where the dukes of burgundy who were the Lords
the dukes of burgundy who were the Lords
the dukes of burgundy who were the Lords of those cities who ruled the territory
of those cities who ruled the territory
of those cities who ruled the territory of today’s Belgium and the Netherlands
of today’s Belgium and the Netherlands
of today’s Belgium and the Netherlands who also had advisors that proclaimed
who also had advisors that proclaimed
who also had advisors that proclaimed that protection of peace
that protection of peace
that protection of peace trade are very important so when those
trade are very important so when those
trade are very important so when those two elites were at war with each other
two elites were at war with each other
two elites were at war with each other which was often they still continued to
which was often they still continued to
which was often they still continued to maintain that protection of peace and
maintain that protection of peace and
maintain that protection of peace and trade is important this was a very
trade is important this was a very
trade is important this was a very general nonspecific idea of the good
general nonspecific idea of the good
general nonspecific idea of the good life for the community of course they
life for the community of course they
life for the community of course they also assumed that everybody is Christian
also assumed that everybody is Christian
also assumed that everybody is Christian that went without saying religion was a
that went without saying religion was a
that went without saying religion was a big business but it didn’t dictate
big business but it didn’t dictate
big business but it didn’t dictate politics on everyday basis and in fact
politics on everyday basis and in fact
politics on everyday basis and in fact in the 15th century the Burgundian
in the 15th century the Burgundian
in the 15th century the Burgundian Netherlands were remarkably prosperous
Netherlands were remarkably prosperous
Netherlands were remarkably prosperous now already the next generation had a
now already the next generation had a
now already the next generation had a much more specific idea of the good life
much more specific idea of the good life
much more specific idea of the good life what happened the generation of leaders
what happened the generation of leaders
what happened the generation of leaders and advisors born at the turn of the
and advisors born at the turn of the
and advisors born at the turn of the 15th to the 16th century championed a
15th to the 16th century championed a
15th to the 16th century championed a new religious culture they believed that
new religious culture they believed that
new religious culture they believed that instead of donating to a church
instead of donating to a church
instead of donating to a church occasionally or going on a pilgrimage
occasionally or going on a pilgrimage
occasionally or going on a pilgrimage you should live your Christian beliefs
you should live your Christian beliefs
you should live your Christian beliefs in your daily life now one of these
in your daily life now one of these
in your daily life now one of these people was Erasmus how many people in
people was Erasmus how many people in
people was Erasmus how many people in Europe know by name because there is a
Europe know by name because there is a
Europe know by name because there is a scholarship scheme named after him
scholarship scheme named after him
scholarship scheme named after him Erasmus criticized the ruling elites of
Erasmus criticized the ruling elites of
Erasmus criticized the ruling elites of his time for being too secular rather
his time for being too secular rather
his time for being too secular rather like some populist today criticized the
like some populist today criticized the
like some populist today criticized the establishment he believed that rulers
establishment he believed that rulers
establishment he believed that rulers should not rely on institutions or
should not rely on institutions or
should not rely on institutions or lawyers and other experts but only on
lawyers and other experts but only on
lawyers and other experts but only on their conscience Erasmus even thought
their conscience Erasmus even thought
their conscience Erasmus even thought that among Christians signing contracts
that among Christians signing contracts
that among Christians signing contracts was not a good idea because you do not
was not a good idea because you do not
was not a good idea because you do not cheat your Christian brothers so signed
cheat your Christian brothers so signed
cheat your Christian brothers so signed contracts are not necessary now this
contracts are not necessary now this
contracts are not necessary now this kind of naivete was attractive the whole
kind of naivete was attractive the whole
kind of naivete was attractive the whole idea of good what got politics means was
idea of good what got politics means was
idea of good what got politics means was rewritten this was the new sincerity in
rewritten this was the new sincerity in
rewritten this was the new sincerity in politics the next generation went one
politics the next generation went one
politics the next generation went one step further they basically proclaimed
step further they basically proclaimed
step further they basically proclaimed that in order for a country to live well
that in order for a country to live well
that in order for a country to live well all its people had to follow the right
all its people had to follow the right
all its people had to follow the right religious principles now unfortunately
religious principles now unfortunately
religious principles now unfortunately for them that was exactly the time when
for them that was exactly the time when
for them that was exactly the time when different parts of society today we call
different parts of society today we call
different parts of society today we call them Protestants and
them Protestants and
them Protestants and Felix started having different religious
Felix started having different religious
Felix started having different religious principles so the people in power took
principles so the people in power took
principles so the people in power took it upon themselves to decide which set
it upon themselves to decide which set
it upon themselves to decide which set of religious principles was right and to
of religious principles was right and to
of religious principles was right and to impose their vision of the good life
impose their vision of the good life
impose their vision of the good life with arms the effect this very specific
with arms the effect this very specific
with arms the effect this very specific idea of the good life had on life as
idea of the good life had on life as
idea of the good life had on life as such was devastating today many people
such was devastating today many people
such was devastating today many people who know European history think that the
who know European history think that the
who know European history think that the war in the Netherlands in the 16th
war in the Netherlands in the 16th
war in the Netherlands in the 16th century was about independence from
century was about independence from
century was about independence from Spain maybe but for those who started it
Spain maybe but for those who started it
Spain maybe but for those who started it and especially for those who tried to
and especially for those who tried to
and especially for those who tried to defend the status quo this war was about
defend the status quo this war was about
defend the status quo this war was about which religious principles should be
which religious principles should be
which religious principles should be followed by the community about the idea
followed by the community about the idea
followed by the community about the idea of the good life and it was a very
of the good life and it was a very
of the good life and it was a very bloody war in a single episode in
bloody war in a single episode in
bloody war in a single episode in Antwerp about seven thousand people were
Antwerp about seven thousand people were
Antwerp about seven thousand people were killed only think of it the Middle Ages
killed only think of it the Middle Ages
killed only think of it the Middle Ages in Europe ended with mass murder not for
in Europe ended with mass murder not for
in Europe ended with mass murder not for the sake of inheritance or some kind of
the sake of inheritance or some kind of
the sake of inheritance or some kind of an iron throne people killed for a
an iron throne people killed for a
an iron throne people killed for a narrowly understood idea of the good
narrowly understood idea of the good
narrowly understood idea of the good life in some parts of the world this is
life in some parts of the world this is
life in some parts of the world this is still happening today and in terms of
still happening today and in terms of
still happening today and in terms of economic prosperity the age of religious
economic prosperity the age of religious
economic prosperity the age of religious wars was the steep downturn for most of
wars was the steep downturn for most of
wars was the steep downturn for most of Europe so what can we learn from this no
Europe so what can we learn from this no
Europe so what can we learn from this no it’s not only about secularism though
it’s not only about secularism though
it’s not only about secularism though secularism does help when you have
secularism does help when you have
secularism does help when you have groups of people with different
groups of people with different
groups of people with different sometimes clashing ideas in your society
sometimes clashing ideas in your society
sometimes clashing ideas in your society but importantly for us today we can also
but importantly for us today we can also
but importantly for us today we can also learn that when politics becomes a quest
learn that when politics becomes a quest
learn that when politics becomes a quest for a narrowly understood idea of the
for a narrowly understood idea of the
for a narrowly understood idea of the good life it ends badly trying to
good life it ends badly trying to
good life it ends badly trying to implement a very inflexible stringent
implement a very inflexible stringent
implement a very inflexible stringent idea of the good life with political
idea of the good life with political
idea of the good life with political power can lead to devastating
power can lead to devastating
power can lead to devastating consequences making politics more moral
consequences making politics more moral
consequences making politics more moral maybe a slogan that leads to less
maybe a slogan that leads to less
maybe a slogan that leads to less competent
competent
competent and ultimately to more conflict and less
and ultimately to more conflict and less
and ultimately to more conflict and less prosperity thank
prosperity thank
prosperity thank [Applause]
”
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