I

Names and Symbols

Namen und Symbole
The Ostarrîchi Document – Die Ostarrîchi Urkunde (996 AD)
The Ostarrîchi Document – Die Ostarrîchi Urkunde (996 AD)

• First mention of “precursor” of name for Österreich

• Document written in Old High German
• Emperor Otto III donated some land (locally called
Ostarrichi) to a bishop; the land is located in modern-
day Lower Austria
The Flag of Austria – Die österreichische Flagge
 The Flag of Austria – Die österreichische Flagge

• Similar to coat of arms of medieval Babenberg dynasty (silver band

in red field)
• Legend: during Siege of Acre (1189–91), the white surcoat of Duke
Leopold V of Austria was drenched in blood  red white red
• From 13th century on, associated with Austria, but not main flag
• National flag after WWI
The Austrian Coat of Arms (1919) – Das österreichische Wappen
The Austrian Coat of Arms (1919) – Das österreichische Wappen

Symbols:
• The Eagle: Sovereignty (1919)
• The mural crown (symbol for cities, by extension urban population
or even bourgeoisie) (1919)
• The Sickle: farmer’s class (1919)
• The hammer: working class (1919)
• The broken chains: liberation from Nazi rule (1945)
How important are historical “firsts” and symbols?
 How important are historical “firsts” and symbols?

• When issued, the Ostarrichi document was not important (only locally)
 How important are historical “firsts” and symbols?

• When issued, the Ostarrichi document was not important (only locally)
• BUT: such documents play a big role in ideological constructions
 How important are historical “firsts” and symbols?

• When issued, the Ostarrichi document was not important (only locally)
• BUT: such documents play a big role in ideological constructions
• Construction of longevity and continuity
 How important are historical “firsts” and symbols?

• When issued, the Ostarrichi document was not important (only locally)
• BUT: such documents play a big role in ideological constructions
• Construction of longevity and continuity
• Idea of “rights” to a territory
 How important are historical “firsts” and symbols?

• When issued, the Ostarrichi document was not important (only locally)
• BUT: such documents play a big role in ideological constructions
• Construction of longevity and continuity
• Idea of “rights” to a territory
• Symbols: tell us, how a country wants to be represented, how it sees itself, how it
wants to be viewed
How is Austrian History defined in our course?

• events that took place on the territory of modern-day Austria

• history of the country
 … keep in mind …

Periodization of European History

• “Prehistory” (Ur- und Frühgeschichte)

• Stone Age (Steinzeit)
• Bronze Age (Bronzezeit)
• Iron Age (Eisenzeit)

• Antiquity (Antike)

• Middle Ages (Mittelalter)

• Modern Period (Neuzeit)

Stone Age

famous excavation: “Venus of Willendorf”

Stone Age

famous excavation: “Venus of Willendorf”

• Discovered in 1908 in a village in Lower Austria

Stone Age

famous excavation: “Venus of Willendorf”

• Discovered in 1908 in a village in Lower Austria

• About 25,000 years old
Stone Age

famous excavation: “Venus of Willendorf”

• Discovered in 1908 in a village in Lower Austria

• About 25,000 years old
• 11 cm tall
Stone Age

famous excavation: “Venus of Willendorf”

• Discovered in 1908 in a village in Lower Austria

• About 25,000 years old
• 11 cm tall
• Likely symbolizes fertility

• Today in the Museum of Nature (Naturhistorisches

Museum) in Vienna
Bronze Age, Iron Age
 Bronze Age, Iron Age

Culture of
Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age
is called
“HALLSTATT CULTURE”
(12th – 8th century BC)

= named after town in Upper Austria,

major excavation site (graves)

Upper left and right: excavations from Hallstatt, bronze vessel and
bronze container
Bottom left: overview of Hallstatt (yellow) and La Tène cultures
(green)
Bottom right: Hallstatt today (a major tourist spot in Austria)
Roman Era
 Roman Era
• Before: Celtic kingdom of Noricum
• Incorporated into the Roman
Empire as a province (like Dacia) in
16 BC
• Important towns founded:
Vindobona (Wien), Juvavum
(Salzburg)
Roman Era Excavations and Artifacts in Austria
•First 3 pictures (from left to right): baths and theatre at Carnuntum (capital
of Pannonia Superior), ”Pagans’ Gate,” Petronell near Carnuntum
• picture on the right: a Roman gravestone (St. Stephen’s!)
Migration Period (Völkerwanderung) (c. 300–800)
Germanic tribes (e.g. Bajuvarians), Slavic tribes settled in these lands
The Holy Roman Empire

(Das Heilige Römische

Reich)

(800–1806)
 1156 – “Privilegium minus”

 Austria becomes a duchy (in

its own right)
1547
Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube 
Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube 
– ‘Let others wage war: thou, happy Austria, marry’.