27-29/06/2019 - Athens Medieval Culture and War Transformation, Renovation, Continuity (Athens)

It is an undeniable fact of human history that war has been on many occasions and in many different historical contexts a powerful stimulus for innovations and change in culture, politicals, and thought. During periods of transition warfare had a crucial role in medieval societies. Following previous meetings in Leeds (2016), Lisbon (2017) and Brussels (2018) the 2019 Medieval Culture and War Conference will be held in Athens in the Department of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). The conference will focus on ‘Transformation, Renovation, and Continuity’. To further promote the research of medieval war, this conference will investigate the above-mentioned questions through varied and interdisciplinary historical, archaeological, literary, sociological, cultural, and art historical approaches. Papers will engage with such topics as:

– Literary imagination, rituals, dramatic activity, sentiments, behaviors, concepts, archeological, and art

– War in theory and practice, secular and religious theoretical aspects, protests and revolts, warfare organisation, ideology, and legitimate and illegitimate violence from a literary historical perspective

– Urban protests, revolts and urban space as a contested space

– Gender and warfare

– Diplomacy, power relations and relations between East and West

The conference will include keynote presentations and a guided visit to the Christian and Byzantine Museum. The working language of the conference is English. Registration fee will be €25.

Please submit a 300 word abstract for a 20 minute paper or for sessions of three papers or debates, along with a biographical note of 150 words, to mailto:athenscultureandwar@gmail.com by 3 March 2019. We particularly encourage the participation of early career researchers and doctoral candidates. A publication of selected papers is planned.

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27-29/06/2019 - Athens Medieval Culture and War Transformation, Renovation, Continuity (Athens)