Following the successful conference held in October 2017 in London and funded by the London Arts and Humanities Partnership, the organisers would like to extend a formative call for publications in preparation to propose a special issue on cross-disciplinarity and forms of knowledge in the early modern world (1450–1800).

Argument

Following the successful conference held in October 2017 in London and funded by the London Arts and Humanities Partnership, the organisers would like to extend a formative call for publications in preparation to propose a special issue on cross-disciplinarity and forms of knowledge in the early modern world (1450–1800).

We invite proposals of original articles from PhD candidates in the final stage of their degree and early career researchers (within 5 years of doctoral award by the time of submission). The papers should fit into the broad geographical scope of forms of knowledge-making around the world from the 15th century until the end of the 18th century. In continuity with the premise of the conference, our main goal is to promote cross-disciplinarity as a methodology and a global perspective both in the scope of the subject of the papers and the academic context of the papers’ authors.

This special issue aims at understanding how cross-disciplinarity is used in current early modern studies and the fresh perspectives it can bring to disciplines long closed-off within an unequal international academic system; highlighting results of cross-disciplinary research conducted by PhD candidates and early career researchers; amplifying such research within the established Anglophone academic journal universe; putting forward the similarities and differences between the various contemporary intellectual frameworks of the authors’ research; and furthering debates on the importance of cross-disciplinary research of the early modern world in the development of contemporary decolonial frameworks.

We particularly encourage topics that highlight the flows of knowledge, such as objects, peoples, techniques, and ideas in the period, including but not limited to: visual and spatial knowledge; languages; ethnography; material culture; gender; race and racism; religion; colonialism and empire-making; political, juridical, and economic thought and practices.

Deadlines

• 01/06/2019 - Expanded abstract of the intended article (2,000–3,000 words)

• 30/06/2019 - Announcement of selected articles and submission of special issue proposal to relevant journals
• 01/09/2019 - Full draft of article (10,000–12,000 words)

How to submit your proposal

Articles should be written in English and be sent in Word or any open access text format to earlymodernknowledgemaking@gmail.com. The file should include name and institutional affiliation (if any) of the author, title, 300-word abstract, and 3 keywords. Proposers should note that this is a call for proposed papers that will form part of a further proposal of a special issue to the editors of leading journals in the fields of early modern studies, history of science, and intellectual history. Therefore, the timescales involved could be substantial owing to the appointments of many of these institutions.

E-mail: earlymodernknowledgemaking@gmail.com

Co-organisers

Marina Bezzi and Joseph da Costa (King’s College London)