The role or usefulness of imperialism, colonialism and postcolonialism, as terms with a modernist historical baggage, to the understanding of pre-modern societies has been the source productive discussion. On these matters, however, the Byzantine world, broadly conceived has lagged somewhat behind.

This event will seek to critically asses the usefulness of the frameworks of imperialism, colonialism and postcolonialism to the study of the Byzantine world. It will do so from a range of perspectives, historical, archaeological, literary, historiographical, and through a discussion-led approach.

The event is part of the TORCH Research Network: New Critical Approaches to the Byzantine World and sponsored by the generosity of The Oxford Centre for Research in the Humanities, and the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research.

PROGRAMME:
09.00 – 09.30 Arrival & Coffee
09.30 – 10.00 Welcome & Introduction
Mirela Ivanova – Balliol College, Oxford Matthew Kinloch – Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna
10.00 – 11.30 Session 1: Imperialism and Colonialism in Byzantium
Chair: Catherine Holmes
Beyond Methodological Imperialism: Medieval New Rome from a Subaltern Perspective
Nicholas Matheou – Institute of Historical Research, London
Byzantine Subalterns from an Archaeological Perspective
Sophie Moore – Cardiff University
11.30 – 12.00 Coffee Break
12.00 – 13.30 Session 2: Imperialism and Colonialism in Byzantine Studies
Chair: Averil Cameron
Byzantium and Orientalism
Jules Gleeson – University of Vienna
The Postcolonial Turn in Medieval Studies, False Starts and New Horizons
Alexandra Vukovich – St Edmund’s College, Oxford
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch
14:30 – 16:30 Session 3: Can the Byzantine World be Postcolonial?
Discussion with Robert J.C. Young
Discussion readings:
General
R.J.C. Young, ‘Introduction’, Empire, Colony, Postcolony (Chichester, 2015) pp.1-6.
E. Said, Orientalism (London, 1978), pp. 1-73.
Medieval History
J.J. Cohen ‘Introduction. Midcolonial’ in ed. The Postcolonial Middle Ages (Basignstoke, 2000), pp. 1-18.
S. Gaunt, ‘Can the Middle Ages be Post-Colonial?’ Comparative Literature 61 (2009), pp. 160-76.
Links to all set reading in PDF will be available on our network website. torch.web.ox.ac.uk/new-critical-approaches-to-the-byzantine-world-network
16:30 – 16:45 Closing Remarks
17.00 – 18:30 Drinks Reception (Seminar Room, TORCH)