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<P>CFP -</P>
<P>International conference: Anti-Ottoman Wars and the Culture of Nobility in
East Central Europe, 16th-18th Century</P>
<P>Leipzig, GWZO, 23-25th October, 2008</P>
<P>The various experiences of being a subject, a tributary state, a competing
power or a simple neighbour of the Ottoman Empire made various impacts on the
early modern states of East Central Europe. Despite the conflicts, which existed
beyond doubt, it seems inadequate to talk about a global confrontation between
Orient and Occident in this context. On the contrary -- forms of cultural
transfer were almost inevitable to develop. The reactions of different groups of
East Central European nobility on the Ottoman expansion can be placed on a wide
scale of real fear, tactic calculation, economic and social arrangements and
pragmatic religious tolerance, even as far as the integration of oriental
features in their own culture of representation.</P>
<P>The specific elements in this conflict area are researched by the
interdisciplinary project "Ottoman Orient and East Central Europe: Comparative
Studies in the Perceptions and Interactions in the Border Zones" at
Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas (GWZO)
in Leipzig. The conference, organised in the framework of the project, searches
the answers to the question of the ways in which the expansion of the Ottoman
Empire influenced the wide domain of East Central European noblemen's
culture.</P>
<P>The chronological fundaments shall on the one hand be 1521 and 1526, the
occupation of Belgrad and the battle of Mohács, both decisive moments for the
history of contacts between Europe and the Ottoman Empire. On the other, we take
the peak of the relations between the two powers -- the relief of the besieged
Vienna in 1683. As a consequence of the latter, even if the developments in the
perception of the anti-Ottoman wars were not absolutely contrary to the earlier
situation, at least they were fundamentally changed. This led to the almost
schematic "Turquerie", or to a general Orientalism in the "long" 18th
century.</P>
<P>The high and lower nobility, as politically involved social strata, had a
distinct estate consciousness. Nevertheless, their groups often had a
controversial relationship with the ruling dynasty, especially in cases when
they belonged to different confessions, such as in the case of Bohemia.
Therefore, the cultural contacts oscillated between an adaptation of and a
demarcation from the culture of the Habsburg Imperial court, rendering the
various noble families and their orientation as subjects of deeper research.</P>
<P>The concept of "noblemen's culture" covers all domains of life, as shown by
its connection to the confrontation with Ottoman expansion. The anti-Ottoman
wars produced among others specific economic results, beneficial for some
noblemen, who, for instance, used the prisoners of war as labour force on their
private estates. Besides, a whole set of new trade and industrial opportunities
opened up for them, such as that of Turkish luxury goods and their replicas.</P>
<P>Another important field of impact on the noblemen's life in East Central
Europe were the opportunities for social advancement, such as related to
diplomatic services. In this case, personal experiences of travel and court
ceremonies at various courts played an important role in perception.</P>
<P>Apart from these, special emphasis has to be given to the variety of written
and visual sources of artistic and representative nature, which -- all according
to their character -- aimed at an instrumentalisation of the participation in
the war, a more or less strong symbolic elevation of the participants as
anti-Ottoman heroes, and made a durable impact on the collective memory. Which
were the points where travel literature, diaries, or pamphlets followed the same
direction as architectonic and figural monuments, medallions, and depictions of
battle scenes? Where did they differ? How did they achieve their impact? What
role did (oriental) music and the theatrical staging of Ottoman culture -- or
the image people had about it -- play in Hungarian, Transylvanian, Bohemian or
Polish-Lithuanian noblemen's culture? Also, the topic of developing habits of
collecting come into the picture. Apart from the question of the respective
objectives of information, legitimation and propaganda, in particular cases the
target groups should be identified as well, in order to create a differentiated
reception history of the anti-Ottoman wars.</P>
<P>In order to suit the research focus of the GWZO project, the contributions
should primarily pay attention to the lands of East Central Europe. The
territories under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy, Poland-Lithuania, the
Hungarian territories under Ottoman rule, Transylvania, and the countries of the
Balkan were border zones, but at the same time they were also the most important
stages for contacts with the Ottoman Empire.</P>
<P>Nevertheless, contributions related to regions which stood in direct or
indirect contact with the Ottoman Empire and East Central Europe (France,
Italy), are also welcome. These should help in making all-encompassing
characteristics and cultural topoi, but also fractures inside the noblemen's
cultures of Europe transparent.</P>
<P>Conference languages: English and German.</P>
<P>Short paper abstracts (1-2 p.) should be sent until 30th May, 2008 via e-mail
to Sabine Jagodzinski M.A. or Dr. des. Robert Born.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Contact addresses:</P>
<P>Sabine Jagodzinski M.A.</P>
<P>Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas
(GWZO) an der Universität Leipzig e.V. Luppenstr. 1b D-04177 Leipzig </FONT><A
href="http://www.uni-leipzig.de/gwzo"><U><FONT color=#0000ff
size=4>http://www.uni-leipzig.de/gwzo</U></FONT></A></P><FONT size=4>
<P>Tel.: +49/0341/97 35 589</P>
<P>Fax: +49/0341/97 35 569</P>
<P>Mail: jagodzinski@rz.uni-leipzig.de</P>
<P>Dr. des. Robert Born</P>
<P>Geisteswissenschaftliches Zentrum Geschichte und Kultur Ostmitteleuropas
(GWZO) an der Universität Leipzig e.V. Luppenstr. 1b D-04177 Leipzig </FONT><A
href="http://www.uni-leipzig.de/gwzo"><U><FONT color=#0000ff
size=4>http://www.uni-leipzig.de/gwzo</U></FONT></A></P><FONT size=4>
<P>Tel.: +49/0341/97 35 582</P>
<P>Fax: +49/0341/97 35 569</P>
<P>Mail: rborn@rz.uni-leipzig.de</P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>