AEMA IX CONFERENCE

Growth and Decay
The Dynamics of Early Medieval Europe

Sunday 10 to Monday 11 February 2013

Monash University, Caulfield Campus

Early medieval Europe (c. 400­–1100) was a dynamic era in which the nexus of power shifted away from the Mediterranean-centred Roman Empire to the former ‘barbarians’ of the north. It saw the triumph of Christianity over diverse traditional religions and the growth of a powerful Church supported by nascent secular states. Technological advances in agriculture, ship-building and warfare opened up new trade routes and settlements, sometimes to the detriment of existing populations, but in places also to their lasting benefit. This is the era of expanding urban growth beyond the Roman Empire. With the burgeoning of urban trade-based settlements this became a period of change in the domestic sphere. Migrations brought mixed populations and new family relationships, and new ways of living. This was also a period of linguistic change, with dominant cultures achieving some degree of linguistic hegemony while minority languages produced some outstanding literature. And yet those dominant cultures in places took on local qualities from the minority cultures.

This conference invites papers which address aspects of this theme and which reflect on the linkage of growth and decay. Can growth be achieved without decay? Does decay take place with no compensating growth? Can decay by one standard be considered growth by another? And by what standards or values can such matters really be judged?

Abstracts of 250 words for 20-minute papers are now sought from interested participants. Panel proposals (3 x 20-minute papers) are also welcome. All submissions should be sent to: conference@aema.net.au by 20 December 2012.

Enquiries should be directed to the conference convenors, Carol Williams and J