During the so-called “Golden Age of Islam” (8th-10th centuries AD) early Abbasid Baghdad was a space of intellectual encounter, cultural exchange and interreligious dialogue. After Babylon, it had become the epitome of multiculturalism and knowledge transfer in the pre-modern Middle East. The interdisciplinary and international conference “Baghdad – Space of Knowledge” aims to explore the “knowledge society” that emerged in the spatial order of this expanding city, with a special perspective on the interaction between pre-existing local models of antique Babylonia and the new structures that were developed by the emerging Islamic civilization, especially focusing the urban landscape and the spaces of knowledge and religion. The conference takes place as a cooperation between the Excellence-Cluster Topoi and the Courant Research Center “Education and Religion (EDRIS)” (Göttingen) and promises to expand the disciplinary scope of both research institutions by fostering the cooperation between experts in Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ancient Middle East, Religious Studies and Theology, Judaic Studies, and Ancient and Medieval History.
21.8.2013 | |
09:15 - 09:30 | Welcome Address and Introduction Jens Scheiner Isabel Toral-Niehoff |
09:30 - 10:15 | The Sansanian Background of Baghdadian Urban Culture Parvaneh Pourshariati |
10:15 - 11:00 | The Economic Circumstances of the Baghdad Region Down to the Mongol Invasion Richard Bulliet |
11:30 - 12:15 | Baghdad, the Centre of the World Foundation Legends of a Marvellous City in a Marvellous Landscape Isabel Toral-Niehoff |
12:15 - 13:00 | Islamic Art and Architecture in Pre-Mongol Baghdad Bernard O'Kane |
14:30 - 15:15 | Philosophical and Scientific Learning in Baghdad Damien Janos |
15:15 - 16:00 | Baghdad: Crossroad of Literary Conversations Beatrice Gruendler |
16:30 - 17:15 | The Who is Who of Baghdad Jens Scheiner |
18:30 - 20:00 | Baghdad, Vergangenheit ohne Zukunft oder Hat eine Hauptstadt 'Kultur' Public Keynote Lecture Josef van Ess |
22.8.2013 | |
09:30 - 10:15 | Abbasid Baghdad and the Markets Hugh Kennedy |
10:15 - 11:00 | The Exchange with Europe: Charlemagne and Harun al Rashid Kirill Dimitriev Klaus Oschema |
11:30 - 12:15 | The Buyid Social Imaginary: Social Structure and the Formation of Intellectual Groups in Fourth Century Baghdad Nuha al'Sha'ar |
12:15 - 13:00 | Baghdad Under the Seljuks: New Institutions for New Powers? Vanessa van Renterghem |
14:30 - 15:15 | The Formation of Sunni and Shii Traditionalism in Baghdad Christopher Melchert |
16:00 - 18:00 | Visit: Samarra-Exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art |
23.8.2013 | |
09:30 - 10:15 | East-Syrian Christians in Seleucia-Ctesiphon in Pre-Baghdadian Times Dimitrij Bumazhnov |
10:15 - 11:00 | Jews in Bavel and Baghdad Elisabetta Abate |
11:30 - 12:15 | Manicheans and Other Religions in Baghdad Desmond Durkin-Meisterernst |
12:15 - 13:00 | Beyond Baghdad: Looking Back to Babylon Eva Cancik-Kirschbaum |