Conquest and Construction: Architecture and Landscapes in the Medieval Mediterranean, Birkbeck, University of London, March 1, 2019

Paper proposals are being accepted for “Conquest and Construction: Architecture and Landscapes in the Medieval Mediterranean” to be held on Friday, 1 March 2019 at the  Architecture Space and Society Research Centre, Birkbeck (University of London)

Much recent scholarship on the medieval Mediterranean focuses on shifting borders and cultural identities. Conquest is one of the causes of such shifts. This one-day symposium will examine how the consequences of conquests were manifested in conquered cities and landscapes, asking how conquerors responded to their new environments and how conquered communities were built and re-built.

Papers might touch on any of the following in relation to conquest, conquerors or conquered territories in the Mediterranean world, in the period 500 – 1500.

• Architecture
• Space, landscape, urbanism, topographies
• Architectural sculpture and decoration
• Sacred and liturgical spaces
• Destruction of architecture and urbanism
• Spoliation and re-use of building materials
• Cross-cultural exchanges through buildings, cities and landscapes
• Conquerors as builders and patrons of architecture
• Castles and defensive architecture
• Written descriptions of conquered landscapes

Papers are welcome on all areas of the Mediterranean world (including the Islamic, Byzantine and Latin areas, Jewish communities, the crusades and border zones).