CFP: Medieval Europe in Motion: The Sea

Sixth Medieval Europe in Motion Conference: The Sea 

Institute of Medieval Studies, FCSH–NOVA University of Lisbon

Lisbon, November 28 – December 1, 2022

“How bold and skilled was the man who first made a ship and put to sea before the wind, seeking a land he could not see and a shore he could not know.” – Robert Wace (c. 1110–c. 1174)

Depending on where one stood in Europe in the Middle Ages, the sea could either be the center of the known world or its ultimate edge. This mixed potential has always drawn humans into the big unknown, allowing them to use the sea to catch fish, to sail towards distant lands for reasons of faith and trade, to establish contacts with civilizations of different creeds, to wage wars for political and economic domination, and inspired them to write poetry and dream about the world beyond. All of this is reflected in the abundant research from Archaeology, Art History, History, Literature, and other disciplines that, in past decades, have investigated fisheries and natural resources, overseas trade and commercial institutions, maritime power and socioeconomic conflict management, and religious migrations, among other topics.

The sixth edition of the Medieval Europe in Motion conference is dedicated to the sea, and welcomes papers from all disciplines. Topics of the conference could include, but are by no means limited to:

• Art and literary works
• Artistic transfers by the sea
• Artistic production in seaside cities
• Circulation of manuscripts, patrons, and materials
• Circulation of techniques and ideas
• Commerce and its agents
• Conflict management
• Cultural encounters
• Diplomacy and political contacts
• Naval warfare and military expeditions
• Geographical expeditions
• Marine archaeology
• Maritime connections between seas
• Maritime frontiers
• Maritime landscapes
• Maritime law
• Nautical cartography and its production
• Perceptions and knowledge of the sea
• Port towns
• Power and institutions
• Pilgrimage and religious devotion
• Real and imaginary journeys
• Socioeconomic networks

The conference will also have a section dedicated to “Medieval Lisbon and the Sea,” continuing the tradition of studies on medieval Lisbon within the Institute of Medieval Studies. Proposals for papers are also welcome in this section.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PAPER PROPOSALS

Scholars of all disciplines are welcome to apply with proposals for sessions or individual papers:

Official languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian

Deadline for the submission of proposals: May 31, 2022

The conference will take place exclusively face-to-face.

1. Proposals for sessions of 3 speakers:

Each session will have three papers of 20 minutes each. The organizer should submit the session proposal with all the relevant elements: name and affiliation of the organizer, title of the session, names and affiliations of speakers and moderator, titles of the individual papers and abstracts.

2. Proposals for individual papers:

Individual proposals should be offered considering papers of up to 20 minutes and include: speaker’s name and affiliation, title and abstract of the paper.

All applications must be sent along with a title and abstract of no more than 250 words as well as a short CV of the applicants to: motioniem@fcsh.unl.pt

The authors of the accepted proposals will be notified by June 30, 2022.

A peer-reviewed volume of selected proceedings will be published in 2023.

Organizing Institution: Institute of Medieval Studies (NOVA University of Lisbon – School of Social Sciences and Humanities)

Partnerships: Centro Interuniversitário de História das Ciências e da Tecnologia (CIUHCT); Municipality of Lisbon (CML); Museu de Marinha; Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa; UNESCO Chair “The Ocean’s Cultural Heritage.”