Conference: Egypt and the Mediterranean World
20 May – 2 June 2021
Hosted via Zoom by:
The American Research Center in Egypt, Cairo, 20 May 2021
The Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections, Amman, 24 May 2021
The Centre for Ancient Cultural Heritage & Environment, Macquarie University, Sydney, 27 May 2021
W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Jerusalem, 2 June 2021
Please note that all papers are scheduled in accordance with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Please check the schedule against your local time zone.
The first iteration of the Egyptian state emerged in the late fourth millennium and survived into the late third millennium BCE. This first Pharaonic state, however, was not monolithic. During this period, Egypt experienced ongoing complex developments in social and political organisation that impacted all levels of Egyptian society. These changes are most evident in the transition to the pyramid-building society of the 3rd and 4th Dynasties, but periods of far-reaching change can also be detected throughout the Early Dynastic Period (1st–2nd Dynasties), the later Old Kingdom (5th–6th Dynasties), and the First Intermediate Period. So too did Egypt’s relationships with the outside world change across this first millennium of state-level organisation.
As one of the earliest state-forming societies whose reach can be seen across the Mediterranean world, Egypt’s interaction with its neighbours has been of great interest to scholars inside and outside of Egyptology for over a century. Over the last 15 years, new textual evidence has emerged, while the application of archaeological sciences has given new life to legacy data. Importantly, recent developments in the absolute chronology of the third millennium coupled with new archaeological data from all parts of the Mediterranean, have started a new-wave reassessment of the synchronisms, nature, and intensity of Egypt’s relationships with its northern neighbours.
The objective of this conference is to bring together the latest research on the interaction between Egypt and the Levantine and Aegean worlds in the late fourth – third millennium BCE (Late Early Bronze I – EB IV / Intermediate Bronze Age), by engaging scholars working directly in these regions. Each region is represented by a different institutional partner that will host a series of invited papers related to the questions of Egypt’s interaction with that region. The conference will be held in an online format to allow for global participation.
PROGRAM & REGISTRATION
The event will be held on four days across May and June, each virtually via Zoom, hosted by one of our participating organisations: 20th May (ARCE in Cairo); 24th May (Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections in Amman); 27th May (Macquarie University in Sydney); and 2nd June (Albright Institute in Jerusalem). Each conference day will consist of two sessions of four 20min papers followed by a discussion.
Registration is free for all presenters and attendees. All attendees and presenters must register to be accepted into the event and must register for each date separately. Following registration, you will be forwarded all required details for attendance.
Please note that all papers are scheduled in accordance with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Please check the schedule against your local time zone.
DAY 1, 20 MAY 2021, CAIRO
Hosted by the American Research Center in Egypt, chaired by Dr Louise Bertini, ARCE Executive Director
Download program & abstracts (subject to change)
DAY 2, 24 MAY 2021, AMMAN
Hosted by the Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections, chaired by Dr Pearce Paul Creasman, Editor JAEI
Download program & abstracts (subject to change)
DAY 3, 27 MAY 2021, SYDNEY
Hosted by Macquarie University, chaired by Dr Karin Sowada, ARC Future Fellow, Macquarie University
Download program & abstracts (subject to change)
DAY 4, 2 JUNE 2021, JERUSALEM
Hosted by the W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, chaired by Dr Matthew J. Adams, AIAR Director
Download program & abstracts (subject to change)
SOCIAL MEDIA & CONTACT
For updates, follow the conference on Twitter @medconf
For enquiries, please contact karin.sowada@mq.edu.au
CONFERENCE PARTNERS
Event supported by funding from the Australian Research Council
