Crossing Borders, Contesting Boundaries II, MEMSA 15th Annual Postgraduate Conference, Durham University online, July 19–21, 2021

Borders and boundaries divided the medieval and early modern world, both its physical space and its more intangible social hierarchies and networks. They helped construct and reinforce  identities, creating a sense of belonging and security; but they also partitioned, segregated, and excluded. Thus, once set, borders and boundaries invited debate, defence, and defiance.

The Medieval and Early Modern Student Association's 15th annual postgraduate conference will be running as a digital event, with papers presented as pre-recorded videos.

We welcome abstract submissions from postgraduate students and early career academics addressing the theme 'Crossing Borders, Contesting Boundaries' in its broadest possible sense.

Potential presentation themes may include, but are not limited to:

• Travel, trade, and pilgrimage
• Cartography and exploration
• Rivalry, conflict, and diplomacy
• Gender norms and expectations
• Frontier zones and border regions
• Belonging and exclusion
• Religious schism and reform
• Legal jurisdiction and transgression