[Archport] New methods and approaches for the study of the multiplicity of the Middle Ages in a global perspective

[Vera Moitinho <veramoitinho@gmail.com>]

Multiplying Middle Ages
New methods and approaches for the study of the multiplicity of the Middle Ages in a global perspective (3rd-16th CE)

November 08-09, 2012
Institut für Mittelalterforschung, Viena, Austria

In the last decades, the study of the centuries between 3rd and 16th century CE, which in European historical tradition are called "Middle Ages", has been significantly modified in various aspects: the comparative view across disciplinary borders has opened new perspectives on transcultural phenomena and the "hybridity" of cultures. The analysis of linkages and networks between individuals, communities, institutions, localities or polities has highlighted the actual complexity of pre-modern societies. And the implementation of digital methods of Historical Geographic Information Systems (HGIS) has allowed a better reconstruction of the organisation and perception of space during these centuries.
In general, it has become clear that the cultural, religious and political transformations that have altered Europe and the neighbouring regions by the end of antiquity to the early modern period (4th-16th century) with significant impacts to the present time can be captured globally beyond the Western European Middle Ages only with a view on the “other Middle Ages” in Southeastern and Eastern Europe, in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond in Central Asia, China, Japan, India and Africa.


The conference is organised by Johannes Preiser-Kapeller, Ekaterini Mitsiou and Mihailo Popovic. Their network analysis related work is particularly interesting and the conference programme includes quite a few network analysis papers.

http://archaeologicalnetworks.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/0-scientific-programme-multiplying-middle-ages-english.pdf