20th conference of the International Committee for Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Studies (CIEPO), Rethymno, Crete, 27 June-1 July 2012‏

The Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Crete and the Institute for Mediterranean Studies/FO.R.T.H. announce that the 20th conference of the International Committee for Pre-Ottoman and Ottoman Studies (CIEPO) will take place in Rethymno, Crete, Greece, on 27 June-1 July 2012.

The organizers encourage thematic panels, but proposals for individual papers may also be submitted. 192 slots are available; 136 out of these will be allocated to thematic panels (34 panels of 4 papers each), and 56 will be available for independent papers.

Each panel will consist of four (4) papers. Each paper -- in a panel, or independent -- will be of a duration of 15 minutes; panels should ideally also include a brief 5-minute introductory presentation of their theme and rationale. The languages of the conference are English, French, German, and Turkish.

The conference does not have a specific theme, but the organizers encourage panels and individual papers which fall under the general topic 'New trends in Ottoman studies', and the following sub-topics:

i) Sources: new interpretations and approaches
ii) Ottoman mentalities, attitudes, ideas
iii) The early modern Ottoman Empire
iv) Reconsidering the 'state v. society', 'centre v. periphery' paradigms
v) New approaches in the study of the Ottoman economy
vi) Ottoman urban history
vii) Rural studies in the Ottoman context
viii) Explorations in Ottoman culture: literature, art, architecture

Proposals must be submitted by email to <ciepo20@phl.uoc.gr> where also all queries should be addressed. The deadline for the submission of proposals is 15 November 2011. The registration forms for the proposals may be downloaded either from the CIEPO webpage (http://www.univie.ac.at/ciepo/?page_id=15) [File name: CIEPO20_Circular1] or from the webpage of the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Crete (http://www.history-archaeology.uoc.gr/en) [under "Activities > Conferences"].

Abstracts for individual papers should not exceed 300 words. Proposals for panels should include abstracts of up to 300 words for each paper, but also an abstract of up to 400 words for the general theme of the panel, also explaining how the four papers interconnect and how they contribute to the theme. Proposals for panels must be submitted by the panel leader, i.e., the person who takes the initiative to organize the panel.

The proposals for panels and individual papers will be examined by an international Vetting Board which will be appointed by the CIEPO Executive Board, and will consist of members of the CIEPO Governing Directorate. The selection process will be double-blind, following the established academic practice for peer review; the names of the members of the Vetting Board will not be announced, and the panel and paper proposals will be forwarded to the Vetting Board by the local organizers without names. The results of the selection process will be announced through the local organizers by 31 December 2011. In case there are appeals (which will have to be submitted to the local organizers by 15 January 2012), the CIEPO President will act as arbitrator.

Details about the registration fee, as well as about accommodation options in Rethymno, will be announced in January 2012, after the end of the selection process. To provide a rough idea, the registration fee will be in the area of 90 euros; the cost of accommodation will range between 30 and 70 euros per night (including breakfast) for single rooms, and between 40 and 110 euros for double rooms, depending on the hotel. The conference participants will have to cover themselves the costs of travel, accommodation, and most meals.

The conference will include four days of sessions, and a full-day excursion (most likely on Saturday 30 June). The Opening Session is scheduled for Wednesday morning (27 June), and the Closing Session and General Meeting for Sunday afternoon/evening (1 July).

Please feel free to circulate this announcement as you see fit.

The organizers,
Antonis Anastasopoulos, Elias Kolovos, Marinos Sariyannis University of Crete -- Foundation for Research and Technology/Hellas