The Mediterranean: Regional and trans-regional Interactions in Times of fragmentation (300 – 800 CE)
The political fragmentation of the Roman Empire meant a reduction regional and trans-regional Interactions in the Mediterranean, while new social and cultural relationships developed. What these networks looked like and how they unfolded in the period from 300 – 800 CE is focus for a workshop planned to take place in Austria in 11.12.2014 – 13.12.2014
The workshops is organized by the Institut für Mittelalterforschung Abteilung für Byzanzforschung an institution run by the Austrian Academy.
True to the nature of a workshop, the format will consist of a discussion of pre-circulated papers
BACKGROUND:
The political fragmentation of the Roman Empire meant a reduction in the scope of economic, social and cultural relationships that had developed across different hierarchical levels and between distant places on Roman soil.
New social and cultural relationships developed in the polities that followed the Roman Empire. Nonetheless, the survival of regional and interregional interactions assured certain homogeneity in political, cultural and social forms across post-Roman Europe.
This phenomenon has been the topic of exiting academic debate in the last decade and different interpretations and methodological approaches have been proposed. !n this workshop, we especially intend to focus the discussion on the issue of interactions beyond the local level between 300 and 800 CE in order to assess
1) to what extent these interactions were affected by the end of the Roman Empire as a political entity, and
2) how these connections contributed to lasting patterns that shaped the post-Roman world in social, cultural and political terms.
We are interested in both Mediterranean-wide and smaller regional networks and would welcome papers that deal with all the regions of the “former” Roman Empire including North Africa, Egypt, Syria, etc. as well as its periphery: Ireland, Armenia, etc.
The theme of this workshop has grown out of research undertaken through the ENFLAWE project (Episcopal Networks and Fragmentation in Late Antique Western Europe”.
We would like to invite proposals from colleagues for papers on any of the following topics:
1) Functioning and structure of regional and trans-regional networks (aristocratic, ecclesiastical, diplomatic, familiar, etc.)
- Tensions between individual agency and structural constraint: how did new social relationships and regional networks affect individuals’ social and political strategies.
- Interactions and social capital: how were extra-local networks used for constructing authority and prestige at the local level and beyond?
2) Symbolic interactions (secular or episcopal letters, relic distribution, gift exchange, etc.):
- Interactions and identity: how effective were these extra-local relationships for constructing and displaying cohesion and belonging?
- Cultural mobility: critical evaluation of Greenblatt’s model of mimetic capital and Christopher Gregory’s work on gift and commodity exchange
3) Changing horizons in the late- and post-Roman World:
- Tensions between centre and periphery: did the end of the Roman Empire change the relationship between centre and periphery?
- How did contemporaries conceptualise geographical distance and explain the process of fragmentation?
If you are interested in proposing a paper, please send a 400-word abstract indicating
- Which primary sources you intend to consider
- What theoretical approaches you will test (not simply use!), if any. We are interested in new methodological approaches for understanding long distance connections. Nonetheless, we are looking for a mix of approaches, so traditional empirical work is welcome.
- What you intend to argue
Our hope is that the workshop will be a first step toward developing a collaborative volume for publication on this theme. Since there is likely to be more space at the table than time for papers, we would also like to hear from people who are interested in attending even if they do not wish to present a paper. This said, if you are interested in being involved in a publication on this theme, but are unable to attend the workshop, we would also like to hear from you. It may be possible to discuss a draft of your work and offer feedback in writing.
DEADLINES:
Proposal 25.04.2014
Feedback on acceptance 10.05.2014
Full drafts for papers (8000 word) 23.10.2014
Please contact david.natal@oeaw.ac.at