The late Middle Ages is the era of the Black Death, wars and economic crises, but also the era of a huge cultural boom, which ultimately gave rise to the Renaissance. It is also the era of the growth of cities and universities and brought forth new forms of labour, production and spirituality, whose influence not only on the lives of individuals, but also on society as a whole, should not be underestimated.
"Chemnitz - City Historical Discoveries" considers three different themes of life in Chemnitz between the 14th and 16th centuries, a time of systemic change in world history and a change in each person's perception of their own role in society: from the plague epidemic to the Reformation, the discovery of America and violent wars between France and the Habsburg states.
Chemnitz - City Historical Discoveries" fits into this broad world-historical arc, with three academic contributions explicitly focussing on the topics of forms of piety, churches and altars in the Chemnitz region as well as one aspect of economic development.
In his contribution, Siegfried Bayer embarks on a search for forms and characteristics of piety in Chemnitz between the 14th and 15th centuries, thereby breaking new ground.
Thomas Schuler offers an overview of churches and chapels in the Chemnitz area before the Reformation and of the ecclesiastical organisation of the Chemnitz region from the end of the 14th to the first half of the 16th century.
Stephan Pfalzer introduces us to the history of the Chemnitz Saigerhütte between 1470 and 1560; thanks to new analyses of historical sources, he reveals new facets of this side of Chemnitz's "early capitalism".