Hans Krawarik Markt im Krieg – Öffentlichkeit, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft von Kirchdorf an der Krems im Dreißigjährigen Krieg

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This book presents unknown facets of the living during the thirty years' war. How does an urbane micro-society respond to forceful heteronomy? What part does the question of religion play in everyday life and development? What happens to civic families? In what way do social patterns influence the population? Does generative behaviour change? What kind of risks and chance guide economic survival in the Great War? With what kind of refinement do judges and council lead the population of the market town through an abstruse and obscene epoch?

All these questions and more are answered sufficiently in this monograph. A meticulous research in archives and an object-oriented variety of methods create a captivating intensity of portrayal. “Markt im Krieg” combines aspects under public law with a socio-economic background, thereby developing a holistic picture of an epoch. Furthermore a familial reconstruction based on an intense research of registers allow biographical approaches as a basis for family studies. It is shown exemplarily which kind of problems had to be overcome in times of social turmoil. The advantage of the book lies in a profoundly didactic description on regional level.

A time full of suspense between tax increase and danger of bankrupt on one hand, between confession and migration on the other strengthened resistance and refuge. A market town in the south of the empire facing war and ruin was at a social state of war. The challenges were social disciplining, counter-reformation and militarisation. The interested reader will better understand social relationships on the lower level. An abundance of worth-knowing details is enriching. Several maps, plans and illustrations usefully complete the description. “Markt im Krieg” could serve as a model for that kind of works on history in the future.