International Medieval Congress
August 2007 Newsletter

IMC 2007

Academic Programme
The IMC 2007 took place between 9-12 July at the University of Leeds, UK. 1507 medievalists attended, making this year's Congress the biggest ever in the IMC's fourteen-year history.

The Congress continues to draw in international participants with 34% coming from Europe and 16% from the US and Canada. This year also saw a 20% increase in the number of delegates from other parts of the world such as Japan and Turkey.

Some 350 sessions and roundtable discussions explored all aspects of the European Middle Ages, with papers on subjects as diverse as Using Brick in the City: Town Walls, Friaries and Undercrofts in Great Yarmouth, Vengeance as Protection in La Chanson de Roland, Minstrels in 15-16th-Century London, Curse or Procedure?: Excommunication in Practice, 900-1050 as well as the popular Arming the Knight, a demonstration by the interpreters of the Royal Armouries.

Amongst many positive comments about the Congress, participants commented that they 'found the round tables a very efficient means of exchanging opinions' and that 'the presentation of the papers inspires me to new research'. This year's special thematic strand, Medieval Cities, generated enormous interest and enthusiasm, with 188 sessions presented under the auspices of the strand, including keynote addresses by Marc Boone, (Department of Medieval History, Universiteit Gent) and Chris Wickham, (All Souls College, University of Oxford). The Medieval Cities strand was co-ordinated by Derek Keene, (University of London) and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all his hard work this past year. The strand clearly opened up new avenues of interest in these subjects, and we hope all who presented in or attended sessions on medieval cities found the experience a positive one.

The session 'Medieval Cities: Retrospect, Aspect, and Prospect - A Round Table Discussion' was audio-recorded, and is available online at: <http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/imc2007.html>.


Events and Excursions
As in previous years, IMC 2007 offered a full programme of events and excursions as an accompaniment to the academic programme.

Sunday, 8 July, opened with a day of excursions to Knaresborough Castle, Mount Grace Priory and Jervaulx Abbey, as well as a walking tour of Leeds City Centre. Sunday events included the opening of our annual Antiquarian and Second-hand Book Fair, a voice workshop (jointly sponsored by the IMC and the North East Early Music Forum), and an evening performance by the Leeds Waits that included dancing and a puppet show (with audience participation). Other events highlights were a medieval cooking workshop directed by IMC regular Caroline Yeldham, as well as a moving performance by an international cast of 'Herod and the Slaughter of the Innocents' from the Fleury Playbook. The Lords of Misrule and Eberhard Kummer also appeared at the IMC, as well as Paul Thomas of the Chaucer Studio, who directed a dramatic reading performance of 'The Franklin's Prologue and Tale'. Other excursions included trips to Durham Cathedral, Whitby Abbey, the Royal Armouries, Kirkstall Abbey, and York.

40th Anniversary Celebrations
Not only is 2007 an important anniversary for Leeds itself it also marks the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Centre for Medieval Studies and the International Medieval Bibliography (now both part of the Institute for Medieval Studies). To celebrate this double birthday a reception was held on Monday, 9 July during the IMC.

Many former students and members of staff were present and mingled with medievalists from all round the world to mark the occasion. The Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Leeds Reverend Councillor Alan Taylor extended a city welcome to all present and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds led the speeches before assisting in the cutting up of the birthday cake.

Following on as part of the celebrations, Peter Sawyer will be giving a lecture titled 'The International Medieval Bibliography: The Unwritten History' on Wednesday, 24 October 2007. For further details contact Alison Martin at <medieval-studies@leeds.ac.uk>.

The IMS will also be taking part in the greater celebrations for Leeds in a series of talks held in the city. More information on these talks can be found at <http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/about/leeds800.htm>.

Looking Ahead - IMC 2008
Plans for next year's Congress are well underway. As in previous years, papers and sessions on all aspects of the study of the European Middle Ages are most welcome, in any major European language. A focus for 2008 will be the special thematic strand on 'The Natural World'.

Interest in (and concern for) the natural environment is not simply a modern phenomenon. Human identities are defined by their relationship with their natural environment, and human lives depend on natural resources. In medieval Europe , the discourse about the natural world was dominated by the Christian religion. However, its foundation was much broader, encompassing a rich and highly varied inheritance from antiquity, including classical natural philosophy, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian religious thought, as well as pagan and vernacular traditions which formed the basis for the development of new European attitudes towards nature. In medieval theology, philosophy, art and
literature landscapes such as deserts and wildernesses conveyed meanings, and so did the animals, real or imaginary, that populated them. While unicorns and dragons may have wandered through imaginary landscapes, the inhabitants of medieval Europe were busily taming the wildernesses surrounding them to permit their exploitation by human settlements and agriculture. Bush and forest were cleared to make way for crops and plants grown for food and trade. Animals were subject to breeding projects, some species were hunted to near extinction, while others were introduced or imported for entertainment and pleasure. But the interaction between humankind and the environment was reciprocal: short-term effects of weather and longer-term climatic change, for example, could have profound consequences for medieval economies, societies, and cultures. In
order to enhance our understanding of all of these developments and the consequences for the environment the input of many different disciplines is essential, and not just from within the humanities; therefore, we will especially welcome papers that cross traditional boundaries of discipline and topic.

Aspects of this thematic strand may include:
* Perception of nature and perception of creation * The 'Book of Nature' * Nature and taxonomy * Natural history and the encyclopaedic tradition * Natural symbolism * Liminality of the natural world * Representations of the natural world * The wilderness in literature, theology and art * The natural world as a threat to human existence * Climate change and its effects * The impact of natural catastrophes on mentalities * Animal populations * Uses of plants and animals in science, medicine and commerce * The exploitation of nature * Land clearance, draining of wetlands, protection of coastlines * Ecology and 'green' thinking The IMC seeks to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of all aspects of Medieval Studies. At the IMC 2008, sessions and papers on the special thematic strand 'The Natural World' are particularly encouraged.

The core strands are:
* Anglo-Saxon Studies * Archaeology * Art and Architecture * Byzantine Studies * Celtic Studies * Central and Eastern European Studies * Church History and Canon Law * Crusades and Latin East * Culture and Society * Daily Life * Drama * Gender Studies/Women's Studies * Geography and Settlement Studies * Government and Institutions * Hagiography and Religious Writing * Historiography (Medieval and Modern) * Jewish Studies * Language and Literature - Comparative * Language and Literature - Germanic * Language and Literature - Middle English * Language and Literature - Romance Vernacular * Late Antique and Early Medieval Studies * Latin Writing * Literacy and Communication * Material Culture * Medievalism and Reception of the Middle Ages * Mediterranean and Islamic Studies * Monasticism and Religious Life * Music and Liturgy * Philosophy and Political Thought * Scandinavian Studies * Science, Technology and Military History * Social and Economic History * Sources and Resources * Theology and Bible Studies

We prefer proposals to be completed online - a quick, easy, and secure method. To submit a proposal, go to http://imc.leeds.ac.uk/imcapp/

Remember to order your equipment for 2008 on your proposal form! Check <http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/imc2008/equipment.html> for more details.

Future IMC Dates
* IMC 2008: Special Thematic Strand: 'The Natural World', 7-10 July 2008 * IMC 2009: Special Thematic Strand: 'Heresy and Orthodoxy', 13-16 July 2009 * IMC 2010: 12-15 July 2010 * IMC 2011: 11-14 July 2011 * IMC 2012: 9-12 July 2012 * IMC 2013: 8-11 July 2013

For more information, contact:
International Medieval Congress
Institute for Medieval Studies
Parkinson Building, 1.03
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Tel +44 (0) 113 343 3614
Fax +44 (0) 113 343 3616
Email: imc@leeds.ac.uk

News about the Leeds Institute for Medieval Studies

Teaching and Research
Leeds is renowned for the range and quality of its teaching, for excellence in skills training and medieval languages, and for exceptional resources. Leeds medievalists' research spans Europe, from late antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages, from Iceland to Africa and the Middle East. Notable strengths include liturgy and music; the Mediterranean (Islam, the Crusades); cultural history of the post-Roman period; mission, monasticism, ecclesiastical history and archaeology; historical topography; art history and critical theory.

Medieval languages and their associated literatures are a special strength: in addition to Latin and Old English, Leeds caters for Old Norse, Arabic, Hebrew, Middle High German, Italian, French and Spanish.

The Institute's links with the Royal Armouries provide a rich environment for teaching and research on chivalry, arms, armour, tournaments, medieval warfare and the archaeology of battle. The Institute's community includes some forty scholars from constituent Schools and partner institutions, together with a nucleus of medievalists within the Institute who work alongside the interdisciplinary teams that produce the Bibliography and organize the Congress.

The Bibliography and Congress attract international visitors and lecturers, who contribute to the Institute's lively programme of seminars, lectures and events.

The co-location of postgraduate teaching and research with the International Medieval Bibliography and Congress (Europe's largest annual gathering in the humanities) provides a milieu wherein students have the opportunity to gain practical as well as academic experience. The Brotherton Library is one of the UK's leading resources for medievalists, including a substantial holding of medieval manuscripts. On the campus edge is the archive of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society, which contains a rich collection of regional medieval material.

International Medieval Bibliography: Call for Contributors
The International Medieval Bibliography (IMB), based at Leeds since 1967, is a multi-disciplinary database of Medieval Studies which helps underpin the work of the IMC. Now, after the implementation of the IMBOnline, the bibliography is working to greatly expand its coverage of publications. To this end, the editorial team is looking for individuals or organisations to become contributors to join its existing range of partners throughout the world.
Contributors take responsibility for identifying and cataloguing publications relating to specific subject or geographical areas, and are rewarded with free subscriptions to IMB (online or print), other free publications and other benefits. Contributors are sought who are based in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Russia, Portugal, Israel, Lithuania, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Romania, and the Arab world, particularly with interests in archaeology, art, regional and local history, and vernacular languages. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, contact the editor, Dr Alan V. Murray, at <A.V.Murray@leeds.ac.uk>.

Membership of the Institute
The IMS Membership scheme offers medievalists the opportunity to benefit from discounts and priority information, IMS products and activities. The membership scheme offers two categories: Associate and Affiliate. For Associate members we offer either the IMB Online or a printed International Medieval Bibliography. For full details and a subscription form, see: <http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/about/join.html>

40th Anniversary Offer
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the International Medieval Bibliography and the Centre for Medieval Studies, now both part of the Institute for Medieval Studies, Brepols Publishers are offering a 40% discount for IMS members available on a selection Brepols books.