This call for papers invites contributions to a workshop on the transmission and circulation of knowledge across time and cultures, with a focus on how to address gaps and broken chains in the historical record. Initiated by Dr Gaëlle Bosseman and Dr Hélène Sirantoine, the event seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on methods for tracing elusive routes of knowledge exchange. Scholars are invited to present 15-minute case studies; abstracts are due by 15 December. The workshop will be held in hybrid format (Sydney time).

Argument

The History of knowledge is a long-established field of scholarly inquiry. In recent years, however, increasing attention has been paid to investigate mechanisms, intermediaries and pathways for the transmission and transfer of information, wisdom, experience or expertise across historical societies, groups or individuals.

How was passed-on knowledge introduced and integrated ? What factors and contexts facilitated the opening of new transmission channels ? To what extent were people permeable or receptive to knowledge perceived as foreign ? Did they actively seek it out, or did they favour tradition and heritage as the primary means of transmission ? At the heart of such research, the concept of circulation and the framework of network analysis provide powerful tools for examining both the trajectories of knowledge in its various contexts, and the cultural, scientific and intellectual choices made by given environments or societies. Yet, scholars frequently encounter a lack of direct evidence necessary to reconstruct these pathways and networks of knowledge transmission, therefore hypothesised through circumstantial indicators, but not fully documented. What to do when confronted with such gaps in the evidence ? How to deal with broken chains of transmission ? 

This workshop seeks to precisely reflect on these questions. By focusing on the methodological challenges posed by broken or elusive routes of knowledge transmission, it aims to foster dialogue among specialists from diverse backgrounds and expertise in order to compare approaches and questions.

This investigation was initiated by Dr Gaelle Bosseman and Dr Hélène Sirantoine on the specific milieux of the Middle Ages which they specialise on.

However, the methodological problem at the centre of this inquiry transcends temporal, geographical and disciplinary boundaries. By inviting collaborative reflection among scholars from a range of fields within the ‘Past and Present’ Cluster of Vere Gordon Childe Centre, this workshop aims to enrich approaches to the complexities of knowledge circulation in an interdisciplinary, trans-period and trans-cultural perspective. 

Submission guidelines

We welcome propositions for 15-minute presentations focused on a specific example or case-study to be shared with the reflection group. If interested, please send an abstract by Monday 15 December to helene.sirantoine@sydney.edu.au and gaelle.bosseman@univ-rennes2.fr

Note that this is planned as a hybrid event (Sydney time), to allow the participation of overseas colleagues. While we favour in-person participation for local colleagues, please let us know if this is not an option for you.

Scientific committee

• Gaelle Bosseman, Université Rennes 2
• Hélène Sirantoine, University of Sydney