Il s'agit de prolonger à México la rencontre de Leuwen (Eurho, septembre 2017, Transferts culturaux et alimentaires, Europe-Amérique, XVI^e-XX^e siècle) en posant cette fois-ci la question des transferts techniques et technologiques qui ont pu avoir lieu entre les deux continents, notamment pour transformer les rapports productifs dans les campagnes. Ces rencontres s'inscrivent dans le programme du Groupent de recherche international du CNRS, Agriculutre, Alimentation, Approvisionnement (GDRI-AAA).

2018, October 15-16

Argument

Focusing mainly on the creation, transmission and circulation of expertise in the rural universe from Europe to South America, but also brought from Latin American colonies into European Rural History between the 17th and 20th centuries, the panel will discuss the internationalization of agricultural knowledge.

Observation, experience, transmission and diffusion of knowledge through theoretical media become cross-referenced within the circulation of expertise conveyed by praxis. Some contexts are more or less receptive to innovation, and certain needs might facilitate the transmission and circulation of technical knowledge. This panel takes stock of the state of the debate on production and circulation of agricultural knowledge, to offer new conceptual tools and approaches to the study of agricultural techniques and literacy in America, stressing the central role played by European laws, theoretical knowledge and techniques.

It is our goal to understand the way individuals who lived in distant rural areas of Latin America between the 17th and 20th centuries, acted. Taking into consideration that some had information on law issues while their neighbors could not read or write. Key questions include: How were those expertise transmitted with such precision and permanence? Through which kind of routes knowledge circulated and who were the main actors? How was this knowledge delivered and used in the Americas? Furthermore, in the 19th century many nations were being born in South America with different ideologies among them, although influenced by Napoleon code and colonial laws. Thus, how, and with what goals and criteria, have circulated laws and norms created in such different contexts?

We seek to deepen the European and extra-European knowledge meeting promoted by ecological imperialism which contributed to transform the model center-periphery used by the History of Sciences. Colonial science has proved to be a hybrid process between European and indigene praxis instead of being the extension of the European model.

Overseas colonies meant for some authors, global labs where the European scientists could confirm their theories. In examining these questions the panel will engage considerations of both the circulation and acquisition of agricultural knowledge, laws, techniques and irrigation systems in the New World, and the obstacles and constraints to agricultural knowledge transfer.

Submission guidelines

Individual papers proposals must include (1) a 200 – 300-word abstract, and (2) a one-page biographical sketch. Abstracts should include the author’s name and email address, a short descriptive title of the paper, a concise statement of the thesis, a brief discussion of the sources, and a summary of the major conclusions.

Send proposals to:

• Salvador Alvarez (Colegio de Michoacán) salfalvs@gmail.com, saalvarezs@prodigy.net.mx
• Alejandro Tortolero (UAM-Iztapalapa) tortoleroalejandro@yahoo.com, atv@xanum.uam.mx

before 2018, July 31 

Selection Committee

• Alejandro Tortolero, professeur à l'université métropolitaine de Mexico (UAM): "Alejandro Tortolero" <atv@xanum.uam.mx>;
• Salvador Alvarez, professeur au Colegio de Michoacán (Mexique): "Salvador Alvarez" <salfalvs@gmail.com>;
• Laurent Herment, chercheur CNRS au Centre des recherches historiques (CRH-EHESS): "Herment Laurent" <laurent.herment@ehess.fr>;