Call for Papers: ‘Exchanging Ideas – Trade, Technology, and Connectivity in pre-Roman Italy’

3-5 February 2020, University of Auckland, New Zealand

This conference will explore models for the transmission of objects, ideas, production techniques, artistic styles, and other technologies in pre-Roman Italy, from the early Iron Age through the fourth century BCE. Through the presentation of innovative and dynamic approaches to trade, exchange, and connectivity, this event will emphasize both the agency of individuals in that exchange as well as the complex network of communication visible in the archaeology and history of Italy during this period.

We therefore invite proposals for papers (30min, followed by 10min for questions and discussion) on various aspects of connectivity, trade, communication, and technology in Italy from c. 900 to c. 300 BCE.

Possible topics include (but are not limited to)…

–          Networks of exchange and communication

–          The spread and/or diffusion of technology and/or artistic style

–          Control and administration of trade, technology, and communication

–          Connections and relationships between craft sites and communities, industries and workshops, artisans and elites

–          Women, families, and production

–          Movement of artisans and traders, and the role of general mobility in trade and technology

–          Local markets and international networks

Proposals should include a title and an abstract of not more than 250 words. We welcome proposals from scholars working on these issues at all stages of their careers, including graduate students and early career scholars.

Proposals should be sent to exchangingideas2020@gmail.com by 1 June 2019.

Confirmed speakers include:

Hilary Becker (Binghamton)

Seth Bernard (Toronto)

John Hopkins (NYU)

Cristiano Iaia (Newcastle/La Sapienza)

Charlotte Potts (Oxford)

Marleen Termeer (Amsterdam)

Nicola Terrenato (Michigan)

Gijs Tol (Melbourne)

There will be a small registration fee to help cover catering and other costs. If you would like to attend, but not offer a paper, please also note your interest via the conference email address (exchangingideas2020@gmail.com) by 1 June 2019 and you will be sent registration information once that is available.

The conference organizers would also like to highlight that the week before this event, the University of Otago in Dunedin, NZ, will be hosting the Australasian Society for Classical Studies (ASCS) Conference (27-31 January 2020). Any participants interested in attending this event, particularly if coming from the northern hemisphere, may also wish to attend the other. For more information on the ASCS conference, please contact Dr. Dan Osland (dan.osland@otago.ac.nz).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the conference organizers: Jeremy Armstrong (js.armstrong@auckland.ac.nz), Sheira Cohen (sheiraco@umich.edu), and Aaron Rhodes-Schroder (aaron.rhodes-schroder@auckland.ac.nz)