EUROPE AND THE ISLAMIC WORLD: CULTURAL TRANSFORMATIONS, 1453-1798
Early Modern Research Centre, University of Reading
14-16 July 2004
CALL FOR PAPERS
This conference seeks to explore the intriguing
relationships between Europe and its Islamic
neighbours in historical perspective, from the
capture of Constantinople to the invasion of Egypt.
We wish to look at the Mediterranean as a region
which facilitated cultural cross-currents, trade
relations, and diplomatic exchanges. England's
first engagements with Eastern countries in
cultural, political, and economic terms provide
another possible starting point. We are interested
in official encounters as much as individual
go-betweens, private histories, and travel
narratives. It is our concern to balance Western
accounts ("The glorious Empire of the Turkes, the
present terrour of the world", to cite the
influential early modern historian Richard Knolles)
with Eastern/Islamic perspectives.
We appeal to scholars from Oriental Studies, art
historians, and specialists in the fields of
architecture, literature and the performing arts.
We call for papers on any of the following topics:
Perceptions of the Ottoman Empire, its politics and
culture in the West
Persia, India, North Africa
Communication and intelligence networks
'Western' or 'oriental' stereotypes in literature,
drama, and the arts
Travel writing
Trade in the Mediterranean
Globalization in historical perspective
Diplomatic and political relations
Theatre and performance in Islamic cultures
Cross-cultural exchange
The organisers
Dr Mark Hutchings, School of English & American
Literature, and Early Modern Research Centre,
University of Reading
Dr Barbara Ravelhofer, Centre for History and
Economics, University of Cambridge
Deadline for submission of proposals: 1 March 2004
Please direct all proposals and enquiries to
Mark Hutchings
School of English & American Literature
University of Reading
Whiteknights
Reading RG6 6AA, UK
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