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The Normans in the South  Mediterranean Meetings in the Central Middle AgesFriday 30 June – Sunday 2 July 2017St Edmund Hall, University of OxfordBy 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.Keynote SpeakersProfessor Graham Loud (University of Leeds)Professor Jeremy Johns (University of Oxford)Professor Sandro Carocci (University of Rome II)Call for PapersProposals for three-paper sessions, as well as individual proposals for 20-minute papers, are welcome. Comparative studies are particularly encouraged. Submissions should include: an abstract of 200–300 words, paper title, name and academic position, institutional affiliation and durable contact details for all speakers.Themes and topics could include: Sicily as a cultural crossroads Crusading The Normans and empire Islamic interactions Political leadership Social change: women, men and families Norman Conquests compared: Italy, Sicily and other parts of Europe Reactions to the Norman presence in the south, then and now Impact on Italy as a whole Migration Local history: micro-perspectives on macro-trendsSubmission Deadline: 15 November 2016Please direct paper and session proposals, requests to join the conference mailing list, ideas for themes, and all other inquiries to:Dr. Emily A. Winkleremily.winkler@history.ox.ac.uk