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 Faculty of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). The conference will focus on ‘Transformation, Renovation, and Continuity’.

2019, June 26-29

Argument

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 Faculty 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

Keynote

Keynote papers will be given by Professor Samuel Cohn (University of Glasgow) and Associate Professor Katerina Nikolaou (NKUA). Moreover, a guided visit to the Christian and Byzantine Museum is included. The working language of the conference is English. Registration fee will be €25.

Submission guidelines

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 athenscultureandwar@gmail.com

 by 28 February 2019.

We particularly encourage the participation of early career researchers and doctoral candidates. A publication of selected papers is planned.

Organization

Organised by Dr Marilia Lykaki and Dr Marios Dimitriadis, with the institutional help of Asc. Prof. of Byzantine History Katerina Nikolaou and Asc. Prof. of Medieval History Nikoletta Giantsi, and in conjunction with the Steering Committee.