By some accounts, 1017 marked the advent of the Norman presence in Italy and Sicily, inaugurating a new era of invasion, interaction and integration in the Mediterranean. Whether or not we decide the millennial anniversary is significant, the moment offers an ideal opportunity to explore the story in the south, about a thousand years ago. To what extent did the Normans establish a cross-cultural empire? What can we learn by comparing the impact of the Norman presence in different parts of Europe? What insights are discoverable in comparing local histories of Italy and Sicily with broader historical ideas about transformation, empire and exchange? The conference aims to draw together established, early-career and post-graduate scholars for a joint investigation of the Normans in the south, to explore together the many meetings of cultural, political and religious ideas in the Mediterranean in the central Middle Ages.

Organized by Dr. Emily Winkler (Haskins Society European VP), this conference is sponsored by the Haskins Society as well as TORCH (the Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities), with support from the Khalili Research Centre for the Art and Material Culture of the Middle East and St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford.  Fuller information on registration, participant options for meals, location, and similar details are available at the Conference Registration Website.  The final program is now available as well.

Keynote Speakers
Professor Graham Loud (University of Leeds)
Professor Jeremy Johns (University of Oxford)
Professor Sandro Carocci (University of Rome, Tor Vergata)

Plus a short Highlight Talk by Professor David Abulafia (University of Cambridge)

Bursaries and Financial Support

Royal Historical Society – Conference travel

• Postdoctoral students and untenured junior researchers, in particular those not in receipt of another grant, may be awarded grants to subsidize registration fees. Depending upon need and the number of applicants, additional funds may be made available to subsidize travel/accommodation costs. Applicants should send: (1) a c.v. of no more than two pages, including an indication of student or early career/untenured status; (2) a clear budget indicating details and estimated costs of registration, travel and accommodation; and (3) full details of application(s) made to other sources of funding and of the outcome(s). Please email applications to: normans@history.ox.ac.uk by 2 June 2017.
• http://royalhistsoc.org/grants/conference-travel/

Barakat Trust

• Grants available for Muslim participants interested in material and visual culture; some funding may be available to non-Muslim participants.
• http://www.barakat.org/grants/

Khalili Research Centre for the Art and Material Culture of the Middle East

• Travel and/or accommodation bursaries of up to £500 to PhD students not resident in Oxford. Preference will be given to students based at institutions outside the UK.
• Applicants should send: (1) a c.v. of no more than two pages; (2) a clear budget indicating details and estimated costs of registration, travel and accommodation; and (3) full details of application(s) made to other sources of funding and of the outcome(s), to Ms Patricia Davies patricia.davies@orinst.ox.ac.uk by Wednesday 31 May 2017. 

Denis Bethell Prize

• All conference papers presented by junior scholars (graduate students or non-tenured faculty) who are Haskins Society members at any session sponsored by the Society during the 12 months of the membership calendar year are eligible.
• The prize is US $400 (or the sterling equivalent) and publication of a revised version of the winning paper in the Haskins Society Journal for the year when the paper was presented.
• The author of the paper must present the paper in person at the relevant conference and must be a member of the Haskins Society.
• Deadline: 31 December 2017
• http://www.haskinssociety.org/bethellprize

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for their own accommodation, and are advised to book as early as possible: Oxford is a popular travel and conference destination in the summer. A few suggestions include: University Rooms, Oxford University Club, The Buttery Hotel, The Bath Place Hotel, The Tower House Hotel.  More expensive options include The Randolph Hotel or The Malmaison.

 

Transportation

Air

The nearest airports are Birmingham International Airport (c. 1 hour away by train: see Rail, below, for connection details) and Heathrow (c. 90 minutes away by bus: see Bus, below, for connection details).

 

Rail

The closest rail station is Oxford. The next closest station (c. 3 miles) is Oxford Parkway. There are rail and bus links between the two stations. To book, visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/.

 

Bus

From Heathrow or Gatwick airports: https://airline.oxfordbus.co.uk/.

For St Edmund Hall, ask the driver for the Queen’s Lane stop. For city centre, ask for Gloucester Green (final stop).

 

Taxi

There are taxi ranks a short walk from the Oxford Railway Station and the Oxford Central Bus Station. To book a taxi in advance, contact Royal Cars: +44 (0) 1865 777333 or http://www.royal-cars.com/.

 

Car

Parking in Oxford is limited, so you are advised to use Oxford Park and Ride: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/public-site/park-and-ride.

Organizer: Dr. Emily A. Winkler
emily.winkler@history.ox.ac.uk

 Sponsors