The Medieval Mediterranean & the Emergence of
the West
NEH Summer Institute for College and University
Professors
June 30–July 25, 2008 ¥ Barcelona (Spain)
Overview
In traditional accounts, the Middle Ages are typically defined as a rupture entailing the loss of the cultures of classical antiquity, destined to remain dormant until their ÒrebirthÓ in the Renaissance. This Summer Institute will stimulate a rethinking of the history of the Middle Ages (1000Ð1500) through the optic of the Mediterranean. As a region whose history of connectivity can be documented over two and a half millennia, the Mediterranean has in recent years become the focus of renewed interest in a number of disciplines. Compared to more traditional histories of Western Civilization, these approaches shift focus from the study of discrete entitiesÑpolitical states (typically those of northwestern Europe), ethnic or religious groups, cultural traditionsÑto a study of their interconnectedness and interaction. The program will emphasize patterns of exchange and circulation (of people, goods, and ideas), with special attention to questions of religious and ethnic pluralisms, cultural contact, commerce, hybridity, transculturation, and the negotiation of identities. This conceptual and thematic shift is an important step in reassessing the role of medieval Europe in the emergence of the modern world, with which we aim to inform both scholarly research and post-secondary teaching
- To encourage a reappraisal of traditional views
of the the ÔWestÕ in both research and pedagogy by taking into account the
tremendous influence of the Mediterranean region in the Medieval era.
- To encourage interdisciplinary research and
teaching that crosses and challenges national and ecumenical divisions.
- To give college and university professors the
opportunity to study and to work collaboratively under leading scholars in
a range of fields.
- To give participants the opportunity to use the
archives, libraries and facilities available in Barcelona.
Important Dates:
April
1, 2008 – Successful and stand-by candidates notified by email
June
29, 2008 – Participants check into accommodation in Barcelona
June
30–July 25, 2008 – Summer Institute is underway
July
26, 2008 – Participants check out of accommodation
Detailed Information on:
The
Institute Co-ordinators and Instructors
Important: Generally,
US citizens who wish to stay in Spain for tourist or business purposes for up
to 90 days do not need a visa. They should travel with a round trip air ticket and
a passport valid for a minimum of six months. To confirm this, and for visa
information for foreign visitors to Spain, click here.
Disclaimer: Information provided on this site and the documents
linked to it is provisional and subject to change without notice at the
organizersÕ discretion. Neither
the NEH, UCSC, nor the Mediterranean Seminar take responsibility for the
content of external internet sites.