2025/05/20 by Marius Ščavinskas · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · #Historical and Archaeological Studies #Historical, Literary, and Cultural Studies #Medieval Literature and History
paper · doi:10.1080/01629778.2025.2507042
openalex publication_date 2025/05/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
This article analyzes images of paganism, known as the dialectic of paganism, in the medieval chronicles of the Baltic regions (Adam of Bremen, Saxo Grammaticus, Peter of Dusburg, and Gallus Anonymus). It explores how the theory of paganism aligns with its practical manifestation. The dialectic of paganism suggests that paganism in medieval writings is associated with the false worship of God. The so-called ‘national/ethnic’ chronicles of the Baltic regions, which were written during the Middle Ages and which focused on the history of national origins, state formation, and Christianization, did not solely emphasize the concept of the ‘false’ worship of God. This article concentrates on identifying the elements of the dialectic of medieval paganism that are visible in the chronicles of the Baltic during the Crusades in that region. It also identifies elements that were not prominently highlighted in the ‘national/ethnic’ chronicles and analyzes why this was the case.