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The Peasants' War between science and instrumentalisation

In cooperation with the Thuringian State Agency for Civic Education, the Gotha Research Centre at the University of Erfurt is hosting a public evening lecture followed by a discussion on Tuesday, 14 October. Under the title "Der Bauernkrieg zwischen Wissenschaft und Instrumentalisierung" (The Peasants' War between science and instrumentalisation), historian Gerd Schwerhoff will look at different interpretations of the Peasants' War of 1525 and compare them with the sources. The event begins at 6 pm in the Landschaftshaus on Gotha's Schloßberg. Admission is free.

entrance to the Gotha "Landschafthaus"
The "Landschaftshaus" in Gotha.

Hardly any historical event has been interpreted and instrumentalised as differently as the Peasants' War of 1525: The event, which was still perceived as disorderly at the time, was later described from different perspectives as a "revolt against feudal oppression", a "religious struggle for freedom", a "rebellion" or a "revolution" – even the term "Peasants' War" is controversial. In the anniversary year 2025, there are a large number of publications, exhibitions and public events. What new interpretations are there, and how do they fit into older patterns? Does the uprising of 1525 still have something to say to us today? And is it possibly being improperly instrumentalised in the current political and cultural battle of opinions? This and more will be the subject of Gerd Schwerhoff's lecture.

The speaker
Professor Gerd Schwerhoff is a senior professor of early modern history at TU Dresden, specialising in crime and the persecution of witches. In 2024, he published "Der Bauernkrieg. Geschichte einer wilden Handlung", a non-fiction book on the subject published by C.H. Beck.

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