Social Connections, Perceptions, and Inquisition Punishments in
Medieval Languedoc : A Computational Analysis

k 2021

Social Connections, Perceptions, and Inquisition Punishments in Medieval Languedoc : A Computational Analysis

SHAW, Robert Laurence John; Tomáš HAMPEJS and David ZBÍRAL

Basic information

Original name

Social Connections, Perceptions, and Inquisition Punishments in Medieval Languedoc : A Computational Analysis

Authors

SHAW, Robert Laurence John; Tomáš HAMPEJS and David ZBÍRAL

Edition

International Medieval Congress 2021, 5 - 9 July, Leeds, UK, 2021

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Presentations at conferences

Field of Study

60304 Religious studies

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

Conference web page

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

inquisition; punishment; heresy; medieval; Middle Ages; quantiative analysis; semantic text modelling; qualitative comparative analysis (QCA)

Abstract

In the original language

Despite significant interest in the way that medieval inquisitors approached the task of quelling religious dissidence – above all the way they detected or even “constructed” heresy among their subjects – the factors that influenced the precise weight of the punishments they meted out have thus far received little systematic attention. Computational analysis of inquisition records, however, can potentially transform our understanding of this field. It can be assumed that inquisitors aimed, at least in part, to punish in accordance with the type, duration, and repetition of heretical activity they perceived. But given that inquisitors sought to root out what they saw as a social “disease” and the extent to which they recorded details of social context and interaction, we must also ask to what extent medieval inquisitors were influenced by what they perceived to be the social position of their suspects. If some attention has already been given to the influence of gender and social status, one can go further, both through more systematic analysis, and through a greater focus on questions of social connectivity. Were dissidents punished differently for knowing famous heretics, or committing actions in concert with others? Did recognised social ties to other sentenced or suspected individuals warrant graver sentences?

Links

GX19-26975X, research and development project

Name: Nekonformní náboženské kultury ve středověké Evropě z pohledu analýzy sociálních sítí a geografických informačních systémů (Acronym: DISSINET)

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Cite

SHAW, Robert Laurence John; Tomáš HAMPEJS and David ZBÍRAL. Social Connections, Perceptions, and Inquisition Punishments in Medieval Languedoc : A Computational Analysis. In International Medieval Congress 2021, 5 - 9 July, Leeds, UK. 2021.

@proceedings{1783379,
   author = {Shaw, Robert Laurence John and Hampejs, Tomáš and Zbíral, David},
   booktitle = {International Medieval Congress 2021, 5 - 9 July, Leeds, UK},
   keywords = {inquisition; punishment; heresy; medieval; Middle Ages; quantiative analysis; semantic text modelling; qualitative comparative analysis (QCA)},
   language = {eng},
   title = {Social Connections, Perceptions, and Inquisition Punishments in Medieval Languedoc : A Computational Analysis},
   url = {https://www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/imc/imc-2021/},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - CONF
ID  - 1783379
AU  - Shaw, Robert Laurence John - Hampejs, Tomáš - Zbíral, David
PY  - 2021
TI  - Social Connections, Perceptions, and Inquisition Punishments in Medieval Languedoc : A Computational Analysis
KW  - inquisition
KW  - punishment
KW  - heresy
KW  - medieval
KW  - Middle Ages
KW  - quantiative analysis
KW  - semantic text modelling
KW  - qualitative comparative analysis (QCA)
UR  - https://www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/imc/imc-2021/
N2  - Despite significant interest in the way that medieval inquisitors approached the task of quelling religious dissidence – above all the way they detected or even “constructed” heresy among their subjects – the factors that influenced the precise weight of the punishments they meted out have thus far received little systematic attention. Computational analysis of inquisition records, however, can potentially transform our understanding of this field. It can be assumed that inquisitors aimed, at least in part, to punish in accordance with the type, duration, and repetition of heretical activity they perceived. But given that inquisitors sought to root out what they saw as a social “disease” and the extent to which they recorded details of social context and interaction, we must also ask to what extent medieval inquisitors were influenced by what they perceived to be the social position of their suspects. If some attention has already been given to the influence of gender and social status, one can go further, both through more systematic analysis, and through a greater focus on questions of social connectivity. Were dissidents punished differently for knowing famous heretics, or committing actions in concert with others? Did recognised social ties to other sentenced or suspected individuals warrant graver sentences?
ER  -

SHAW, Robert Laurence John; Tomáš HAMPEJS and David ZBÍRAL. Social Connections, Perceptions, and Inquisition Punishments in Medieval Languedoc : A Computational Analysis. In \textit{International Medieval Congress 2021, 5 - 9 July, Leeds, UK}. 2021.

Přehled o publikaci