{"word_count": 258, "character_count": 1934}
Special Sessions: Sicily and Its Neighbors, I and II 48th InternationalCongress on Medieval Studies May 9 - 12, 2013 Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MichiganAs a nexus of civilizations, the island of Sicily was in contact withnumerous European and African powers. As such, its past was inextricablyintertwined with the history of numerous lands. The 48^th InternationalCongress will include two (2) sessions titled "Sicily and its Neighbors"intended to give scholars of various backgrounds and disciplines anopportunity to share ideas about how Sicily's history influenced -- or wasinfluenced by -- the various civilizations with which it was in contact. Inother words, the sessions will provide scholars with an opportunity tohighlight connections between the island and the wider medieval world.Indeed, the title is intentionally broad in the hopes that the CFP willferret out submissions from a wide range of scholars.Possible topics include Sicily's relations with the Byzantine Empire and theIslamic world. Papers on the island's relations with western powers are alsowelcome. Topics here might include its role in the early Spanish Reconquistaand its later position as a possession of the Crown of Aragon. Otherpossibilities include Sicily's relations with the Holy Roman Empire, itsinteractions with Franco-Norman lands, its connections to the Plantagenets,its influence on papal politics, and the role it played (and at times didnot play) in the Crusades. There are many possibilities.Abstracts of 200 - 300 words and a Participant Information Form (PIF) shouldbe forwarded *no later than September 15* (the PIF is available athttp://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/submissions/index.html#Paper).Both should be directed to:Dawn Marie HayesDepartment of HistoryMontclair State University426 Dickson HallMontclair, New Jersey 07043E-Mail: Dawn.Hayes@Montclair.edu &#60;mailto:Dawn.Hayes@Montclair.edu&#62;Fax: 973-655-3159