Hello! My name is David Reher, and I'm organizing a panel at the
International Congress for Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo. I'm still looking
for 1-2 contributors, and was wondering whether you could distribute the
cfp below? I feel that a presentation on the Yuan dynasty would help
realize the proper scope of this project. Please email me if interested so
we can discuss an abstract--Thank you!
David
East meets West: Revisiting the Medieval Dichotomy of Place and Space in
Asia and Europe
In light of persistent antagonisms between the Europe and Asian countries
like China and Iran, the imaginary line demarcating West from East remains
as powerful as ever. This roundtable delves into the nature and evolution
of this geographical and ideological dichotomy as it emerges in the Middle
Ages (7th through 13th c:) through an interdisciplinary lens that invites
perspectives from both sides of the divide. We will explore questions such
as: the origins and developments of 'Europe' and 'Asia' as textual,
historical and cartological concepts; travel narratives to Central and East
Asia; historical or trade accounts like the Genizah manuscripts and
Carpini's Historia Mongolorum; comparative perspectives on encounters the
Crusades or Mongol invasions; Franciscan missionizing efforts to the
Persians and Yuan dynasty; accounts of foreigners in local courts like
Rabban Bar Sauma or Buscarello de Ghizolfi; and iconic figures like Prester
John of Ethiopia and St. Thomas in India. This panel thus seeks to open a
more nuanced window onto the intellectual discourses and interdisciplinary
communities that gave shape to the concepts of space and place in the
global Middle Ages.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Saturday, September 1, 2018
CHAIR: Suzanne Conklin Akbari
CONTACT: David M. Reher, University of Chicago dmreher@uchicago.edu
Sponsored by ACMRS (Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies)