Call for Participants

Call for Graduate Student Participants for The Early Modern Exchange Annual Workshop

‘Religion and Belief’, 10-16 August 2015, Sabanci University, Istanbul

The Early Modern Exchange is a network of scholars at the universities of Oxford, Princeton, Münster, and Sabanci, which convenes an annual workshop for doctoral students researching early modern history. We are currently seeking 2-3 D.Phil students, whose research intersects with the annual theme, to make up the Oxford contingent for this year’s workshop being held in Istanbul.

‘Religion and Belief’

This year’s theme revolves around questions of ‘Religion and Belief’ in early modern history. This may include work on the interface between politics and religion, religion in the arts, religion and empire/nation, histories of secularization, belonging and religious identity, conversion, toleration and violence, confessionalism and historical backgrounds to the emergence of religious parties, along with other topics form the wider field of religious practice and belief. Both the theme and the period are understood in their broadest possible terms. We particularly welcome participants whose research engages with methodological issues, historiography, interdisciplinary discourses, and alternative theoretical approaches.

Format

The workshop involves two parts: research presentations and source sessions. Each student will submit a research paper (15-20 pages) by 20 July, which will be pre-circulated and read by all participants. Then at the workshop, each student will give a short presentation linking their own project to the broader historical questions of religion and belief, which will lead into sessions where academics and peers continue the discussion and offer constructive feedback. In the source sessions, pre-circulated primary or secondary sources relating to the theme (selected by the participants of each contingent) are discussed by the group.

Funding

Successful applicants will receive travel costs and accommodation in Istanbul.

Applications and Eligibility

• Applications to participate in the workshop are open to any Oxford D.Phil student whose research engages with this year’s theme.
• Applicants will need their D.Phil supervisor’s approval to participate.
• Applicants must be able to travel to Turkey and to commit to the dates of the workshop (10-16 August 2015).
• Interested participants should send an abstract of 250 words outlining how their doctoral research engages with early modern histories of religion and belief.
• Discussions will take place in English, so there are no language requirements.

Abstracts should be sent to Dr Hannah Murphy (hannah.murphy@oriel.ox.ac.uk) and Dr Hannah Williams (hannah.williams@sjc.ox.ac.uk) by Friday 15 May 2015(Week 3, Trinity Term).
 

Early Modern Catholicism