Shii News – Academic Items
1. The Role of Islamic Coins in Reading the History of a Site: Baalbak and Beirut as example, by Dr. Hassan Akra (Lebanese University)
February, 11th (3h-4h PM CET, 4h-5h PM in Amman & Beirut)
https://www.ifporient.org/archaeology-mena/
Join next conference of Ifpo’s webinar “ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA FROM LATE ANTIQUITY TO THE OTTOMAN PERIOD. FIRST SERIES: LEBANON AND JORDAN”
Abstract
Coins have not only an economic function, as a medium of exchange, but also other relevant functions: for instance, they can be a propaganda instrument intended to propagate the ideology of a political or/and religious power in place. The economic aspect revealed through the material aspect of coins, namely their intrinsic value (weight and alloy), makes it possible to perceive the financial and monetary policy of a State at a specific moment in its history and reflects as well the vicissitudes and vagaries of the political or economic situation as it may appear at the time of the strike. However, the coins legend – « any inscription appearing on the obverse and/or reverse of a coin: a name, a title, an indication of the mint, value, a date, a religious motto or not …” (Dictionnaire de Numismatique 2001) – is also rich in information. Here we will focus mainly on these data and their evolution throughout the medieval period.
By crossing these data both with written sources (especially chronicles of historians of the time) and archaeological documentation, coins become a tool of great importance. On the one hand, they enable us to read the history of a site or a city: in this context, we will present here the history of Baalbek in medieval times through coins (636-1516). On the other hand, coin hoards will help to fill monetary and/or historical gaps on a very precise period: in this context, we will present the Abbasid hoard discovered in Beirut and the Crusaders hoard discovered in Sarepta/Sarfand.
Dr. Hassan Al-Akra holds a PhD in “Archeology, History and Documents” from Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE) in Paris. He is specialized in numismatic studies of the medieval period.
He is currently Assistant Professor at the Lebanese University, at the Department of Arts and Archeology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Section 3 – Tripoli. He is researcher at the National Museum of Beirut, where he is studying medieval coins (from Islamic and Crusaders periods) and co-director of the archaeological project at Abu-l-Hasan Fort, a fort of the Medieval period, in Sfaray/Jezzine. He is instructor at the Ministry of Tourism, where he teaches the course “Archeological sites” for the diploma in Tourist Guidance.
He published several articles about the political and religious change in the Middle East through the study of coins, and he has given many seminaries on cultural, historical and contemporary heritage of religious and historical sites and museums.
His books “L’Histoire de Baalbek à l’époque médiévale d’après les monnaies” (Presses de l’Ifpo) won the prize of “Medaille Drouin” from the French Academy and the Samir Shamma Prize from the British Museum in 2018.
Since 2018, he is the General Director of the Lebanese National Library.
2. ONLINE: 18th Annual Islamicate Graduate Students Association Conference on “What Does Race Have to Do with Religion? Racialization and Worldwide Islam”, UNC-Duke, 20-21 February 2020
Fields inclusive of, but not limited to: Religious Studies, Political Science, Sociology, History, Art History, Anthropology, Comparative Literature, Philosophy, Asian Studies, African American Studies, Geography, Women and Gender Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, American Studies, and African Studies.
3. ONLINE Discussion “Trans/Formations in Arabic Literary Theory: Prospects and Limits”, Columbia University, 19 March 2021, 10:00 am EST; First Session: 14-17 June 2021; Second Session: 14-17 October 2021
We invite scholars to explore a plethora of thematic issues tied to the challenges of mapping, reconstructing, and studying varied sets of Arabic literary theoretical frameworks with the aim of identifying cross-temporal and trans-local conceptualizations and terms for a genealogy of Arabic literary theory.
Information: https://icls.columbia.edu/news/cfp-transformations-of-arabic-literary-theory/
4. ONLINE Panel on “What Does Diaspora Mean in the 21st Century” during the “12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS 12)”, Kyoto, 24-27 August 2021
The conference will explore the meaning of diaspora in the 21st century. The diasporic discourse is at risk of becoming teleological as a means of articulation, and, thereby, masking the very real struggles that may only eventually produce collectiveness. Or, does this disavow any room for dynamics within diasporic studies? The globalisation also brings with it a whole new set of parameters for perspectives on belonging.
Information: https://networks.h-net.org/node/73374/announcements/6752090/icas-conference-diaspora-call-papers
5. Panel on “European Islam and the Emergence of New Religious and Political Authorities between the Local Dimension and Transnationalities” during the “Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion”, Münster, 30 August – 2 September 2021
The papers, with sociological, anthropological, theological and historical approaches, discuss how new forms of authority undermine the traditional ones and redefine the transnational ties between Islamic communities in Europe and Islamic countries which through various mechanisms influence the construction of European Islam.
Deadline for abstracts: 28 February 2021. Information: Dr. Minoo Mirshahvalad (University of Turin), mmirshahvalad2@gmail.com
6. Workshop and Publication: “Islamic Legacy: Narratives East, West, South, North of the Mediterranean (1350-1750). A Thesaurus under Discussion”, University Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7 September 2021
To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the relations between Christianity and Islam, the conference will especially discuss the following specific terms: Orient – Occident, Morgenland – Abendland, Doğu-Batı – Coexistence, Convivencia – Hybridity – Border-Frontier, Center – Periphery, Holy Land – Reconquista, Rückeroberung, Fetih.
Deadline for abstracts: 1 April 2021. Information: https://is-le.eu/calls/islamic-legacy-narratives-east-west-south-north-of-the-mediterranean-1350-1750-a-thesaurus-under-discussion/
7. ONLINE Workshop: “Rewiring the House of God: Religious Self-World Relations in the Digital Environment (Including Islam)”, Universities of Birmingham, Graz and Erfurt, 15-17 September 2021
The workshop will examine the mutually transformative relationship between digital technologies and contemporary modes of religiosity.
Deadline for abstracts: 1 March 2021. Information: https://www.uni-erfurt.de/en/max-weber-kolleg/kolleg/recent-news/translate-to-english-veranstaltungen/eventdetail/rewiring-the-house-of-god-religious-self-world-relations-in-the-digital-environment
8. Post-doctoral Research Fellow (3 Years, Focus “Age & Generation” in Historical Iran), Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin
The research unit “Age & Generation” studies processes of reshaping inter-generational relations. The candidates must hold a PhD in history, anthropology, sociology, area studies, or cognate disciplines. Applications should preferably have a historical perspective.
Deadline for applications: 15 February 2021. Information: https://www.zmo.de/fileadmin/Karriere/Ausschreibung_Age_Gen_Postdoc_1.pdf
9. Academic Coordinator for Joint Project on Democratic Impulses in North Africa and the Middle East since the 19th Century, Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin
Requirements: Above-average degree results (MA or equivalent) in the humanities or social sciences, ideally relating to West or North Africa. Very good German and English language skills; French skills desirable. Experience in academic management.
Deadline for applications: 16 February 2021. Information: https://www.zmo.de/fileadmin/Karriere/Ausschreibung_Academic-CoordinatorEZV_ZMO.pdf
10. Post-doctoral Researcher on the “European Qur’an”, Université de Nantes
To join the project “The European Qur’an: Islamic Scripture and European Culture and Religion (1150-1850)”. Requirements: Applicants should have a PhD in a discipline in the humanities by the time of application, or at least strong assurance that they will obtain the PhD by August 2021. Candidates should be fluent in English and French and have strong skills in other languages appropriate to their research topics. Some knowledge of and experience in digital humanities (e.g., XML-TEI) is welcome.
Deadline for applications: 31 March 2021. Information: https://euqu.eu/research-opportunities/
11. Lecturer in the History of the Middle East, SOAS University of London
The preferred candidate will be proficient in the regional languages relevant for their research, with a demonstrated openness to transnational and interdisciplinary approaches. We particularly welcome applicants working on histories of gender, migration, and the environment. The periodic focus is open.
Deadline for applications: 14 March 2021. Information: https://iismm.hypotheses.org/51899
12. Associate Director, Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, Stanford University
Requirements: PhD strongly preferred; ability to develop program partnerships and funding sources; excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization; ability to oversee and direct staff; basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans.
Information: https://careersearch.stanford.edu/jobs/associate-director-abbasi-program-in-islamic-studies-11439
13. Appel à Candidatures 2021: Prix Michel Seurat, Sociétés contemporaines du Proche-Orient et du Maghreb
Ce programme vise à aider financièrement chaque année (15 000 € en 2021) un jeune chercheur, ressortissant d’un pays européen ou d’un pays du Proche-Orient ou du Maghreb, contribuant ainsi à promouvoir connaissance réciproque et compréhension entre la société française et le monde arabe.
Date limite de dépôt des candidatures : 15 avril 2021. Information : prix.michel-seurat@cnrs.fr.
14. Summer Programme: “Gender in Muslim Contexts”, Aga Khan University London, 28 June – 6 July 2021
Run by leading experts on gender and Islam, the programme will bring together scholars and students from diverse backgrounds to discuss key issues in the study of gender in Muslim contexts.
Deadline for application: 16 April 2021. Information: https://www.aku.edu/ismc/study/Pages/summer-programme.aspx
15. École doctorale : « Les usages du Coran dans les sociétés musulmanes contemporaines », IRMC, Tunis, 14-18 juin 2021
Cet atelier doctoral entend examiner les modalités de cette reconfiguration en étudiant les incidences et les recompositions induites par ces nouveaux usages du Coran dans les activités ordinaires des croyants, y compris l’éducation religieuse.
Les dossiers sont attendus avant le 15 février 2021. Information: https://calenda.org/830282?file=1
16. MIDA/ENIS Summer School: “Spoken Images of/in Islam:Languages and Translations in Texts and Images”, Università degli Studi di Catania, Sicily, New Dates: 5–9 July 2021
The main objective of this school is to investigate the image–text relations in Muslim traditions by applying to different genres of images and texts and by thinking about how they are affected by translation or interpretation.
Deadline for application: 1 April 2021. Information: http://iismm.ehess.fr/docannexe/file/2147/call_ed2021_06_11_20_final3.pdf
17. Articles for “Diyâr. Journal of Ottoman, Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies“
Diyâr is a new, interdisciplinary and interregional academic journal concerned with research on Turkey, the Ottoman Empire and its successor states, Iran, Central Asia and the Caucasus. We accept articles of a variety of research topics and areas in the field of the humanities, cultural studies and social sciences written in German, English, and French.
Deadline for articles: 15 March 2021. Information: https://www.diyar.nomos.de/index.php?id=7418&L=1
18. Articles on “Muslim Women and Gender at the Margins” for Special Issue of “Religions”
This Special Issue seeks to focus on the heterogeneity and multiply gendered ways of being Muslim by drawing attention to the subjectivities, performativity and experiences of those women who tend to be marginalized even within critical feminist scholarship on women and Islam.
Deadline for manuscripts: 1 December 2021. Information: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions/special_issues/Muslim_women_margins
19. Contributions for “The IASA Bulletin” of the International Association for the Study of Arabia (Spring 2021)
The IASA Bulletin compiles notices on research, publications, fieldwork, museum updates, societies, conferences and events in the Arabian Peninsula as well as feature articles and book reviews.
Deadline for contributions: 14 February 2021. Information: https://www.theiasa.com/publications/bulletin/
20. Chapters for the Edited Volume “Marxism in Muslim Contexts: Communist Organizing, Socialist Movement, and Religious Response”
Proposals investigating Muslim responses to Marxism from historical, anthropological, literary, sociological, cultural, and religious perspectives are welcomed.
Deadline for abstracts: 31 March 2021. Information: dwidmannabraham@ursinus.edu.
21. Complex Metallurgy of the Bronze Age-Iron Age Transition in Iran: Archaeomaterials and Forensic Investigations
Funded PhD: EU and UK only; March 15 2021
The Cranfield Forensic Institute and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory are offering, in partnership with the British Museum, a fully-funded PhD studentship on the archaeometallurgy of Iran during the Bronze Age-Iron Age transition (c. 1200–800 BCE). The student will investigate an exceptional collection of artefacts that includes substantial quantities of bladed weaponry.
For more information and to apply, see:
22. Open Access:
Materials for a History of the Persian Narrative Tradition. Two Characters: Farhād and Turandot.
Author: Orsatti, Paola.
Published: Venezia: Ca’ Foscari, 201
23. University of California – Berkeley
Lecturer Pool All Specializations – Department of History
The Department of History at the University of California, Berkeley invites applications for a pool of qualified temporary instructors to teach courses should an opening arise. Screening of applicants is ongoing and will continue as needed. The number of positions varies from semester to semester, depending on the needs of the department. Positions may range from 16% to 100% time, which would translate to 1 to 6 courses over a two semester academic year.
The Department of History at the University of California, Berkeley, is generating an applicant pool of qualified instructors to teach courses in all areas of History (Africa, Ancient Greece & Rome, Byzantine, Early Modern Europe, East Asia, North America, Jewish, Late Modern Europe, Latin America, Medieval Europe, Middle East, Science, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and other various needs), pending openings.
https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=61008
24. The Institute of History and the Research group for the Near and Middle East of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University, and the Department of Turkic Studies of Eötvös Loránd University cordially invite you to the following online event:
VÁMBÉRY STUDIES COLLOQUIUM
12 February 2021 (Friday)
Invite Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81972924889
Meeting ID: 819 7292 4889
Opening address:
09.00. (CET). István Vásáry (member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ELTE University, Department of Turkic Studies, Budapest):
Has Vámbéry’s lifework any relevance for today?
25. The Toronto Initiative for Iranian Studies Presents:
Forugh Farrokhzad, Modernity and Madness
Leila Rahimi Bahmany, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
Friday, February 12, 4-6 pm EST
Zoom Registration: https://uoft.me/IranianStudies
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/4142168369145728
Posted in: Academic items- February 09, 2021
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