CfP: STABILITY AND CHANGE AT THE BORDERS OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE AND OF POST-BYZANTINE CIVILIZATION

Deadline 10 agosto 2019

THE ANNUAL SCHOOL OF BYZANTINE STUDIES – The 2019 edition

STABILITY AND CHANGE AT THE BORDERS OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE AND OF POST-BYZANTINE CIVILIZATION
September 5th – 13th 2019
Bucharest, Constanța

 

The Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization (IASLCC), in partnership with the University of Bucharest, The Ovidius University of Constanța, and the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, is organizing the 2nd edition of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, to be held between September 5th and 13th of 2019 in Bucharest and Constanța (in Romania).

The scientific leadership of the 2019 edition of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies will be coordinated by Academician Răzvan Theodorescu, Vice-President of the Romanian Academy and Secretary General of the International Association of South-Eastern European Studies.

Following on from the success of the previous (2018) edition dedicated to tackling “Byzantine representations in literature, history and art”, the 2019 edition will focus on issues of “Stability and change at the borders of the Byzantine Empire and post-Byzantine civilization”.

Whether modern scholars have focused on the internal evolution of the Byzantine Empire or have attempted to integrate the Byzantine civilization into a broader cultural context, the concepts of stability and change have continually informed scholarly approaches to Byzantine studies over the past two centuries.

When applying the general three-stage pattern of civilizational evolution (emergence, zenith and decline), devoting particular attention to the internal particularities of Byzantine society, Arnold Toynbee came to see the Byzantine Empire as the inheritance of the old Greco-Roman world, reshaped under the influence of Orthodox Christianity. More recently, Spyros Vryonis expanded upon this line of inquiry, demonstrating that Byzantine culture made significant inroads into the proximate cultures of the Latin West, the Islamic world and the Orthodox Slavs, disseminating its core set of values outside of the political frontiers of its Empire. Due to this ultimately successful process of cultural dissemination, he argues, the cultural “divide” between Western and Eastern European civilizations can therefore be rightly called into question.

Moreover, the issue of Byzantium’s cultural heritage permeating the borders of the Empire’s territory and acting as a powerful influence far beyond them was also analysed by Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga during the 20th century. In identifying the essential influence Byzantine culture had on the development of the arts and civilization of the emerging Romanian princedoms after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Iorga coined the fortunate phrase Byzance après Byzance as a moniker for the entire region, an expression that encompasses the complex processes of Byzantine civilization’s survival through cultural influence, dissemination and contamination.

Relying on such valuable interpretations of historians, the Annual School of Byzantine Studies will engage participants in a stimulating dialogue attempting to define the borders of Byzantium in a highly dynamic historical context, marked on one side by emergent local literary and philosophical cultures and on the other by the tension of central authority radiating from Constantinople. Byzantine Church art and architecture, as present in the Romanian space, will be employed as the principal means of identifying the established cultural models and exchanges that took place at the borders of the Byzantine Empire on the Lower Danube, critically and comparatively analysed in relation to the Balkans and to Asia Minor.

The Annual School of Byzantine Studies will feature a number of scientific lectures given by established specialists in a number of subfields of Byzantine Studies (literature, palaeography, history, theology, philosophy, art history), aiming to impart an advanced knowledge of current research trends and methods to its participants as well as to habituate them with various kinds of primary and secondary sources (manuscripts, texts, images, elements of material culture etc.). Those attending will have the opportunity to actively involve themselves in the proceedings and contribute to the collective debate and discussion through the option of presenting their MA and PhD projects to the assembly.

The participants will also have the opportunity to explore a number of local monuments of post-Byzantine art in Romania, such as the Stavropoleos Monastery, the Old Court (Curtea Veche), the Cotroceni Palace Museum and Mogoşoaia Palace in Bucharest or visits to archaeological sites in Constanța (the ancient polis of Tomis) and Histria (ancient Istria).

CALL FOR ATTENDANCE

The Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, in partnership with the University of Bucharest, the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration and the Ovidius University of Constanţa, are organizing the 2nd edition of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, on the theme of Stability and change at the borders of the Byzantine Empire and of post-Byzantine civilization, to be jointly held in Bucharest and Constanţa between the 5th and the 13th of September, 2019.

This year’s edition will fall under the scientific supervision of Academician Răzvan Theodorescu, Vice-President of the Romanian Academy and Secretary General of the International Association of South-Eastern European Studies.

The organizers are hereby launching a call for applicants to attend the proceedings of the School, up to a total number of 15 participants. The Call is open to interested Masters students, PhD candidates and young postdoctoral researchers. The participants are required to be fluent in English.

 

Information regarding the submission of applications, candidate selection criteria and participation in the proceedings of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, 2019 edition

I. Candidates’ applications will contain the following documents, in English:

  1. A motivation letter (500 words maximum)
  2. A CV detailing the candidate’s level of study, field of activity and a current list of publications;
  3. A short essay or a short description of their chosen research topic (1000 words maximum)

II. Candidates may submit their applications between July 29th and August 10th, 2019.
The organizers may extend the submission period should not enough applicants submit the required documentation within the aforementioned timeframe.

III. Evaluation and selection criteria:

    • Candidate’s motivation for taking part in the Annual School of Byzantine Studies – 20 points
    • CV and list of publications – 20 points
    • Essay / description of research topic – 60 points

Candidates must submit their applications to the following e-mail addresses: office@institutlevant.ro and raducan_ana_maria@institutlevant.ro, no later than midnight (23:59) on August 10th 2019 (Eastern European time).

Candidates will be selected based on scholarly merit.

Successful candidates are requested to confirm their participation no later than the 19th of August 2019.

Successful candidates will be treated to: free access to the programme’s courses, documentary visits guided by professional experts to historical sites in Bucharest and archaeological sites in Constanța County, with transport to and from these locations being provided by the event organizers.

Candidates will also be entitled to free accommodation at pre-arranged locations in Bucharest and Constanța. The organizers will also provide meals through a bespoke catering service.

The organizers cannot cover participants’ inbound and outbound connections to Bucharest for the purposes of attending the Annual School of Byzantine Studies.

 

Calendar of events:

29.07.2019 – 10.08.2019 (11:59pm) – Submission of applications

12.08.2019 – Application evaluation and selection

13.08.2019 – Publication of the list of successful candidates onto the website of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, found at https://institutlevant.ro/

19.08.2019 (11:59pm) – Deadline for participants’ confirmation of their attendance. Failure to confirm one’s participation by this appointed deadline incurs the candidate’s exclusion from the list of participants.

05.09.2019–13.09.2019 – Proceedings of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies

The detailed programme of all lectures to be given as part of the School will be displayed on the Institute’s website (https://institutlevant.ro/) before the commencement of its Proceedings.

Person of contact: Ana-Maria Răducan, PhD – raducan_ana_maria@institutlevant.ro

Participants will be awarded participation diplomas upon completion of the course.

REGULATIONS
FOR THE 2019 EDITION OF
THE ANNUAL SCHOOL OF BYZANTINE STUDIES

click here to download this regulations »»»

I. THE EVENT ORGANIZER

Chapter 1. General provisions

Art. 1.             The Annual School of Byzantine Studies is organized by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, (henceforth IASLCC), in partnership with the University of Bucharest, the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration and the “Ovidius” University of Constanța, in accordance with current legislation governing the organization and selection of participants for the above-mentioned programme.

Art. 2.             (1) The current Regulations shall apply to both the participants in and the organizers of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, 2019 edition, for the purposes of creating its Programme, establishment of eligibility criteria, dissemination of information on the proceedings of the 2019 edition of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, selection of participants as well as the obligations of organizers and of participants to the programme.

(2) Through their enrolment in the course, participants are acknowledging their agreement with the provisions contained in the Regulations, and their responsibilities to respect the provisions of proper conduct for the proceedings contained in the present Regulations.

(3) The present Regulations shall be made available for the duration of the School and may be accessed through the IASLCC website, found at https://institutlevant.ro/en/

(4) The IASLCC reserves the right to unilaterally modify or amend these Regulations in accordance with current legislation, with any eventual modifications to be made public via its official website.

(5) Candidates have an obligation to periodically consult the IASLCC website in order to access up-to-date information regarding any potential modifications of the Regulations.

Chapter 2. Programme Objectives

Art. 3.             The 2019 edition of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies is the 2nd edition of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies organised by the IASLCC.

a) The programme is open to Masters students and PhD candidates affiliated with public or private higher learning institutions in Romania, accredited by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research, as well as to Masters students and PhD candidates from abroad that have a competent grasp of the English language and whose research interests extend to the culture and civilization of Byzantium;

b) The programme aims

a. to create a favourable environment for the exchange of new scientific breakthroughs regarding Byzantine culture and civilization, open to students from both Romania and abroad;

b. to promote the scientific activity of the IASLCC;

c. to facilitate participants’ interaction with established professors, researchers of the IASLCC, specialists and notable figures of the academic world, in order to impart a deeper understanding of the themes tackled throughout the Annual School of Byzantine Studies.

d. to expand upon and consolidate the ties between the IASLCC and the academic environment.

Chapter 3. Timetable of events

Art. 4.             The timetable for the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, 2nd (2019) edition, contains the following steps:

(1) Launch of the project: July 29th

(2) Application period: July 29th – August 10th

Applications must be submitted, in full, no later than midnight (11:59pm) on August 10th, 2019 (Eastern European time).

The IASLCC reserves the right to extend the aforementioned deadline should an insufficient number of candidates apply before then.

(3) Candidates’ evaluation and selection: August 12th

(4) Notification of successful candidates: August 13th

(5) Proceedings of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies: September 5th – 13th.

II. PARTICIPANTS

Chapter 4. Eligibility conditions

Art. 5. In order that candidates be eligible to take part in the event, the following conditions must be met:

  • That they are full-time students, enrolled in either a Masters or PhD programme, or else qualify as young post-doctoral researchers;
  • That they forward a complete application by the specified deadline, which will consist of one motivation letter (up to a maximum of 500 words), a curriculum vitae which will include the academic programmes they follow, their chosen field of study and their list of publications, as well as an essay (up to a maximum of 1000 words), where the applicant may detail their own research interests and themes of study. Any applications which are deemed to be incomplete will not progress to the final selection.

Art. 6.             The selection process

The candidate selection process is comprised of the following steps:

  1. Enrolment of candidates

Candidate enrolment shall be conducted on the basis of the submission of candidates’ applications to the following e-mail addresses: office@institutlevant.ro and raducan_ana_maria@institutlevant.ro, no later than midnight (11:59pm) on August 10th, 2019 (Eastern European Time).

The documents comprising the candidates’ applications are a necessary condition to progress to the next stage in the evaluation and selection process. Candidates who fail to meet the Conditions for Eligibility laid out in Art. 5 shall have their applications rejected and will not progress to the application evaluation stage.

  1. Selection of participants
    • Candidates’ Letters of Motivation for taking part in the Annual School of Byzantine Studies – 20 points
    • Candidates’ CVs and Lists of Publications – 20 points
    • Candidates’ submitted Essays – 60 points.

The selection of candidates shall be conducted according to scientific criteria.

  1. The Candidate Evaluation and Selection Committee for the Annual School of Byzantine Studies is made up by its:

Chairman: The Scientific Director of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, Academician Răzvan Theodorescu, Vice-President of the Romanian Academy, Secretary General of the International Association of South-Eastern European Studies

Members:

Cătălin Ştefan Popa, PhD, Scientific Researcher at the IASLCC, Coordinator of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies;

Florica Mihuț, PhD, IASLCC Expert, specialising in History;

Ana-Maria Răducan, PhD, IASLCC Expert, specialising in Byzantine Studies.

4. Point scale distribution

A. The candidate’s motivation to attend the Annual School of Byzantine Studies – a maximum of 20 points total, distributed as follows:

    • 20 points awarded for a very well-advocated motivation, which shows an excellent overlap with the candidate’s previous field of study, expertise and interests, with a very clear view on how the Annual School of Byzantine Studies will be of use to the candidate in their further research.
    • 15 points for a well-advocated motivation, which shows a good overlap with the candidate’s previous field of study, expertise and interests, but which does not adequately convey the ways in which the Annual School of Byzantine Studies would be of use to the candidate in their further research.
    • 10 points: A weakly advocated motivation, which does not clearly show one of either the candidate’s affinity to the field of Byzantine studies, or the way in which the Annual School of Byzantine Studies will be useful to the candidate for their further research.
    • 5 points: A very weakly advocated motivation, which expresses neither the candidate’s affinity to the field of Byzantine studies, nor a way in which the Annual School of Byzantine Studies will be useful to the candidate for their further research.

B. The candidate’s CV and their collected list of publications – a maximum of 20 points total, distributed as follows:

    • 10 points awarded for specialist studies in the field of Byzantine studies (history, literature, theology, history of art)
    • 5 points awarded for publication of relevant academic pieces in the field of Byzantine Studies (5 points for 4 or more publications, 4 points for 3 publications, 3 points for 2 publications, 2 points for a single published piece, and 0 points for lack of publication history)
    • 5 points awarded for the candidate’s participation at various conferences, summer schools or other events pertaining to the field of Byzantine studies (5 points for 4 or more events attended, 4 points for 3 events attended, 3 points for 2 events attended, 2 points for a single attended event, and 0 points for not having participated to any relevant events)

C. The candidate’s essay – a maximum of 60 points total, distributed as follows:

    • 20 total points to be awarded for the candidate’s argumentation and the scientific merit of their chosen research topic;
    • 20 total points to be awarded for the scientific relevance of the candidate’s chosen theme of research to the programme of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies;
    • 20 total points to be awarded for clarity of writing and concision of ideas expressed.

The evaluation of candidates’ applications will take place on the 12th of August 2019.

The final list of successful applicants will be published on the IASLCC’s website (https://institutlevant.ro/en/ ) on the 13th of August 2019.

Successful candidates are required to confirm their attendance no later than 6 days after the publishing of the abovementioned list, namely by the 19th of August 2019. Any and all successful candidates that fail to confirm their participation before this deadline shall be excluded from the selection list, with their place being taken up by the next available candidate in order of point tallies achieved. Moreover, confirmed candidates are also required to notify the organizers as soon as possible in the eventuality that they become unable to attend the event.

 

III. PARTICIPANTS’ OBLIGATIONS

Participants to the Annual School of Byzantine Studies are hereby understood to have the following primary obligations:

  • That they provide for their own transport to and from Bucharest from their country or city of residence in order to attend the event;
  • That they recognize and respect the authority, provisos and guidance issued by either the Annual School’s Scientific Director, group coordinators or other organizational staff;
  • That they adhere to the timetable of events organized by the IASLCC by attending all lectures, excursions and meals provided
  • That they inform the organizers of any prior medical conditions, known allergies, particular dietary requirements, or medical interdictions on carrying out strenuous physical activity;
  • That they exhibit decent, balanced, cooperative and collegial behaviour over the entire course of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies;
  • That they take steps not to damage the image, standing or reputation of the IASLCC through inappropriate behaviour or illegal actions that run contrary to the IASLCC’s stated interests;
  • That they consent to having understood and agree to abide by the provisions contained in the present Regulations, through the completion of the Commitment form associated with the Annual School of Byzantine Studies’ application process;
  • That they have understood that, in cases of serious malfeasance or non-compliance with either the present Regulations or with the established Programme of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, commensurate measures might need to be taken in order to safeguard the proceedings of the School, including but not limited to the possibility of disciplinary action, participant exclusion or law enforcement intervention.

 

IV. ORGANIZERS’ OBLIGATIONS

The organizers of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies are hereby understood to have the following obligations:

  • That they provide adequate accommodation for all participants for the entire duration of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies across the two locations the event will be held in: Bucharest and Constanța;
  • That they provide confirmed participants with adequate transport facilities both between the two locations of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, and for the duration of pre-arranged visits to archaeological sites in the field;
  • That, throughout the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, they contract catering services to provide participants their meals, and that they accommodate any expressed dietary or allergenic requirements of the participants themselves wherever applicable;
  • That they provide appropriate venues and adequate technical equipment (projectors, laptops, flipcharts etc.) for all lectures and events comprising the School;
  • That they endeavour to offer any and all assistance required in any situations that might arise throughout the event, to the extent of their own ability, capacity and level of professional training.

 

V. PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION PROVISIONS

The IASLCC undertakes to respect the legal provisions regarding the protection of applicants’ personal data, gathered both as a result of the application process as well as obtained throughout the event itself. As such, the IASLCC hereby commits to safeguarding the confidential nature of each participant’s personal data, only employing it in accordance with current national and European legislation. Personal details thus obtained will not be used for commercial purposes and similarly will not be forwarded to any third parties.

Application submissions must be accompanied by the applicant’s asseverated consent to the processing of their personal details, expressed through the submission of the specific form which will be made available on the IASLCC’s website.

 

COMMITMENT

click here to download Commitment »»»

 

Programm

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH 2019

Opening Ceremony of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies (Antonescu Hall, University of Bucharest)

Lecture by the Scientific Director of the 2019 edition of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, Academician Răzvan Theodorescu, Vice-President of the Romanian Academy, Secretary General of the International Association of South-Eastern European Studies

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH 2019

Exploratory trips to Byzantine and post-Byzantine sites across Bucharest (Manuc’s Inn, the Old Court, Stavropoleos Monastery, Mogoşoaia Palace)

 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH 2019

Departure for Constanța

Accommodation in Constanța

Visitation of Techirghiol Monastery

Exploratory trips to Byzantine and post-Byzantine sites in Constanța. Visit of the Museum of National History and Archaeology and of the Roman Mosaic Edifice.

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH 2019

Lecture 1, Ovidius University

Coffee break

Q&A session

Lunch break

Lecture 2, Ovidius University

Q&A session

Presentation of participants’ research themes

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH 2019

Lecture 3, Ovidius University

Coffee break

Q&A session

Lunch break

Lecture 4, Ovidius Univeristy

Q&A session

Presentation of participants’ research themes

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH 2019

Lecture 5, Ovidius University

Coffee break

Q&A session

Lunch break

Lecture 6, Ovidius University

Q&A session

Presentation of participants’ research themes

 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH 2019

Lecture 7, Ovidius University

Coffee break

Q&A session

Lunch break

Lecture 8, Ovidius University

Q&A session

Presentation of participants’ research themes

 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH 2019

Exploratory trip to the archaeological site at Histria

Lecture 9 (during the archaeological visit)

Lunch break

Return to Constanța

Closing ceremony and awarding of Diplomas of Participation, at the Ovidius University

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH 2019

Participants’ departure for Bucharest

Author: Aisseco

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