Source: The Byzness.
The fourth century was a pivotal age in the history ofthe Roman Empire, an age of transition: New residencies of imperial poweremerged in both West and East, with Constantinople as upcoming principal courtand stage for imperial triumphs and celebrations. The attitude of the emperorstowards Christianity changed from proscription to prescription, thoughreligious belief and practice – Christian as well as traditional – were still diverse.Rome‟s ever-growing status as the Christian city culminated in its claim forprimacy over other sees in the early 380s. The political division between Eastand West after the death of Theodosius I, in 395, would, in retrospect, be adefinitive end to administrative unity.
The concepts of concordia and discordia pervadelate-antique textual and visual as well as material sources. Romans developedand exploited these notions with fairly different (geo-)political, religious,geographical and social ambitions in mind: some strove for unity within theempire, others pursued unity within Christianity. There were advocates forunity among „real‟ Romans opposed to threatening „barbarians‟ and agents for (acultural) unity within the senatorial aristocracy. And there were those whorejected these initiatives for uniformity and opted for separation: the splitof the empire in 395 was final, but it was certainly not the first division. Besidesoccasional geographical separate entities, the Latin speaking West and theGreek oriented East had been polarized in intellectual and theological matters.From a religious perspective, Christian and traditional groups rejected orextricated themselves from the binding Christian doctrine, some goingunderground as „heretics‟, others as monks dwelling in isolated places. At thesame time, traditional cults still persisted or revived, of which Mithraism isbut one example. In all cases, people used the concepts of unity and discord inconstructing their identity. As a result, the Roman Empire in late antiquitywas – maybe more than other periods inits history – characterised by its many identities and different groups tryingto control the empire.
This conference seeks to explore the degree of unityand discord between East and West in the fourth century from different angles.Therefore we invite scholars of all fields working on Late Antiquity to presenttheir views on the topic. Our hope is that this meeting will prompt a dynamic interchange among scholars with a focus on ancient history, literature,archaeology, architecture, religion, law and philosophy, (but also on) cultural memory and identity building.
Comparisons of political, social or cultural phenomenain the Eastern and Western part of the Empire are as much appreciated aspapers which discuss fourth centuryviews on unity (or separation). With this conference, we hope to deepen ourunderstanding of the complexities of unity and discord in the late Romanempire.
Practicalities
Organisation: drs. Roald Dijkstra and drs. Sanne vanPoppel, Radboud University Nijmegen
Location: Radboud University Nijmegen (theNetherlands)
Date: 24-26 October 2012
Papers are accepted in English, German or French (30minutes length).
The conference opens with a keynote lectureby prof.dr. David Potter (University of Michigan) on the 24th, followed by a reception,for both of which everyone is cordially invited. There will be an optionaldinner afterwards (on own expenses). Confirmed speakers are offered hotel accommodationfor two nights (24 & 25 October) and conference meals (breakfast, lunch andrefreshments; dinner on the 25th). Given our restricted budget, we kindly askparticipants to declare travel expenses at their own institution.
Abstract (500 words) should be sent in before 1 May 2012 to unity@let.ru.nl. 15 May at the latest, youwill be informed about your admission to the conference. For further questions,please mail to the address mentioned above.
Confirmed speakers:
Dr. Jan Willem Drijvers (University of Groningen) -tba
Prof. dr. Christian Gnilka em. (WestfälischeWilhelms-Universität Münster) - “Die Reichsidee des
Prudentius”
Prof. dr. Mark Humphries (Swansea University) -"The Centre and the Centrifuge: Imperial Unity
and Civil War in the Fourth Century"
Prof. dr. HervéInglebert (Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense) - "Concordia,Romania et
Ecclesia catholica: les discours de l'unité romaine au IVe siècle"
Prof. dr. David Potter (University of Michigan) -"Can we measure the might of Rome?"
Dr. Alexander Skinner (Cardiff University) -“Aristocrats and Imperial Service: Observations on
an East-West Contrast”
Prof. dr. Paul Stephenson (Radboud UniversityNijmegen) - tba
Chairs:
prof. dr. Sible deBlaauw (Radboud University Nijmegen)
prof. dr. Bas terHaar Romeny (Leiden University)
dr. Daniëlle Slootjes (Radboud University Nijmegen)
