[POSTPONED] CALL. 15.05.2020: Ertegun Conference on Roman Imperialism - Oxford (England)
FECHA LÍMITE/DEADLINE/SCADENZA: 15/05/2020
Given the nature of the last month or so, we have decided to extend the deadline for abstracts to May 15th 2020. We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has already submitted an abstract and make clear that the conference will be going ahead: if the lockdown in the UK persists we will either push back the conference to a point where it is feasible or look to use technological solutions to have a virtual conference.
FECHA CONGRESO/CONGRESS DATE/DATA CONGRESSO: 10-11/07/2020
LUGAR/LOCATION/LUOGO: Ertegun House, Oxford University (Oxford, England)
ORGANIZADOR/ORGANIZER/ORGANIZZATORE: Rafail Zoulis ; Connor Beattie
INFO: rafail.zoulis@wolfson.ox.ac.uk ; connor.beattie@magd.ox.ac.uk
CALL:
We are inviting submissions for the 2020 Ertegun House Roman History Conference, Oxford. The focus of the conference is ‘Roman Imperialism’ from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. We encourage papers that challenge existing narratives, offer new insights, and engage with thematic questions that allow comparison across the periodization typically assigned. The conference will be broken down into the following categories, which might provide a focal point for papers being submitted:
1. Expansion and Contraction: Despite connotations of a stable political unit, the Roman imperium was in a constant state of flux, waxing and waning from its initial explosion onto the Mediterranean scene until its collapse. Discussion will focus on topics like the reasons of Roman expansion, the success with which the Romans were able to expand, the resistance they faced in certain locales, the failures and setbacks which led to loss in power and influence, the reasons for fragmentation of Roman power, and effects of fluidity on the taxonomy of empire.
2. Language vs. Reality in Power Dynamics: Roman power was discursively constructed as well as being part of the physical reality. Language and cultural conceptions had the power to shape and define what ‘empire’ was. The discussion here will focus on topics like the language of diplomatic discourse, conceptions of identity, contemporary understandings of empire and power dynamics, the literary and mythological representations of empire, and the real distribution of power throughout the Mediterranean.
3. Modes of Integration and Diversification: Scholars have been locked in a perennial debate over the degree of integration that took place within the Roman empire and the extent to which we can speak of such terms as ‘Romanisation’, ‘globalization’, or ‘Mediterraneanisation’. The discussion will focus on topics like the spread of a uniform religious pantheon, the prevalence of localism, the spread of Roman citizenship, and the rituals of integration.
4. Engines of Exchange: The Mediterranean world was an extremely interconnected one, both before the rise of Rome and after: trade, migration, exchanges of myths and ideas, the spread of coinage, the movement of armies. The discussion will focus on themes like trading patterns, the ancient economy, the consumer empire, the means by which ideas spread, and population mobility.
Please send an abstract of no more than 250 words by 15th May 2020 to rafail.zoulis@wolfson.ox.ac.uk. Please include your name, email, university affiliation, level of study, title and abstract on a Word document or PDF. Contributors accepted to present at the conference will be notified by the end of April. Presentations will be 15-20 minutes long with the chance for questions and discussion at the end of each, therefore please ensure that papers do not exceed that timeframe.
Applications from young scholars, in their Masters and early years of PhD, are particularly encouraged.
Dates and Logistics: The conference will take place over a two-day period on July 10th and 11th. Lunch will be provided on both days and there will be free tea and coffee throughout the day. There will also be a chance to sign-up for dinner with the keynote speaker.
Travel and Accommodation: Those selected to present are expected to fund their own travel and accommodation in Oxford. However, we have put aside a small pot of money which we hope to use to subsidize accommodation for those who need it.
If you have any questions or desire some clarification please email connor.beattie@magd.ox.ac.uk.