*Final Announcement*
SHIFTING FRONTIERS IN LATE ANTIQUITY
An Interdisciplinary Conference
The University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
March 23-26, 1995
In many ways, Late Antiquity (which traditionally extends from
A.D. 260, the accession of the emperor Gallienus, until 640, the death
of the emperor Heraclius and the rise of Islam) represents several
kinds of "new frontiers." Late Antiquity itself is a chronological
frontier, separating Antiquity from the Medieval, Byzantine, and Is-
lamic periods. It saw new geographical frontiers, which separated
east from west, Mediterranean from inland European, and Christian from
Muslim. One also can identify various kinds of metaphorical frontiers
involving spiritual, religious, intellectual, psychological, mental,
social, ethnic, gender, and cultural matters.
Current research by scholars of Late Antiquity, the early Middle
Ages, the early Byzantine Empire, and the early Islamic period is ex-
panding to include consideration of this multiplicity of frontiers.
Hitherto, such investigations have been carried out in a vacuum. This
conference, organized by Hagith S. Sivan of the University of Kansas
and Ralph W. Mathisen of the University of South Carolina, will create
a first-ever venue for a comprehensive discussion of the frontiers of
Late Antiquity.
SPEAKERS ROSTER
Andre Basson (Rand Afrikaans Univ., South Africa), "A Transformation
of Genres: Shifting Frontiers in Late Latin Literature"
Lisa Bitel (Univ. of Kansas), "The Land of Women: Domestic Space and
the Frontiers of Gender in Early Medieval Ireland"
Thomas S. Brown (Univ. of Edinburgh), "Stragegies for Mapping the
Frontiers between Late Antique and Early Medieval Italy"
James Brundage (Univ. of Kansas), "The Paradox of Equality in Canon
Law"
Richard Burgess (Univ. of Ottawa), "Hydatius and the Final Frontier,"
Beatrice Caseau (Univ. de Nanterre), "Fragrances: A Gateway through the
Impenetrable Frontier between Earth and Heaven"
Evangelios Chrysos (U. of Ioannina), "The Transformation of the Roman
World, Fourth through Ninth Centuries"
Gillian Clark (Univ. of Liverpool), "Bodily Frontiers: The Christian Body
in Late Antiquity"
Frank M. Clover (Univ. of Wisconsin), "The Northeast Frontier of Van-
dal Africa, A.D. 476-533"
John F. Drinkwater (Univ. of Nottingham), "The Authenticity of the
German 'Threat': A Romano-Gallic Artefact?"
John Eadie (Michigan State Univ.), "Reinventing the Past: Theory and
Practice in Roman Frontier Studies"
Linda Ellis (San Francisco State Univ., "Dacians, Sarmatians and Goths
on the Roman-Carpathian Frontier, 2nd-4th Centuries A.D."
Hugh Elton (Trinity College), "Defining Roman Frontiers"
Jill Harries (Univ. of St. Andrews, Scotland), "Sidonius the Fron-
tiersman"
Sebastian Heath (Univ. of Michigan), "Settlement in Southern Gaul:
Boundary to the Past?"
Michael Jones (Bates College), "Geographical-Psychological Frontiers
in Sub-Roman Britain"
Walter Kaegi (Univ. of Chicago), "Reconceptions of Byzantium's Eastern
Frontiers in the Early Seventh Century"
C. Kirby (British Museum) and S. Orel (N.E. Missouri State) "Political
Border, Cultural Change: The Case of Gebel el Haridi (Egypt)"
Fannie J. LeMoine (Univ. of Wisconsin), "Winning the Right to Read:
Women and the Study of Scripture in Late Antiquity."
Jacqueline Long (Univ. of Texas), "Two Sides of a Coin: Aurelian, Va-
ballathus, and Economic Frontiers in the Early 270s"
Constantin Marinescu (Columbia Univ.), "The Use and Reuse of Greco-
Roman Art in Late Antiquity: Episodes of Adaptation and Accultura-
tion"
Ralph W. Mathisen (Univ. of South Carolina), "Crossing the Supernatu-
ral Frontier in the Early Middle Ages"
David H. Miller (Univ. of Oklahoma), "A Frontier Perspective on the
Transition between the Late Ancient World and the Early Middle
Ages"
David Olster (Univ. of Kentucky), "The Oikumene and its Limits: The
Transformation of Roman Universalism in the Seventh Century"
Richard Rothaus (Oklahoma State Univ.), "Christianization and De-pa-
ganization: The Late Antique Creation of a Conceptual Frontier"
Hagith Sivan (Univ. of Kansas), "Why Not Marry a Barbarian? Marital
Frontiers in Late Antiquity"
Thomas Smith (Loyola University, New Orleans), "A Clash of Theological
Frontiers in the Early Fifth Century"
Susan T. Stevens (Randolph Macon Women's College), "Frontiers between
City and Country in North Africa, A.D. 400-700"
Richard J.A. Talbert (U. of N. Carolina), "Mapping the Frontiers of Late
Antiquity"
Dennis Trout (Tufts University), "Invisible Frontiers: Town, Country-
side, and Christianization at Paulinus' Nola"
LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
The Conference sessions will be held at the Spenser Museum of Art on
the University of Kansas Campus. Sessions will run from late afternoon
of Thursday, March 23, thorough the morning of Sunday, March 26. All
sessions will be plenary, and papers will be aproximately 25 minutes
each. There will be ample time for discussion and personal interaction
among the registrants.
Those arriving by air will fly to Kansas City International airport
(MCI), which is served by all the major airlines. Limo service at a
cost of $21 one-way is available, and the conference organizers will
make reservations and attempt to arrange shared rides if arrival times
are known.
Registration for the Conference is $96, and will include copies of
abstracts, three breakfasts, two lunches, and three receptions. Reg-
istration by out-of-town attendees who intend to stay at the Eldridge
should be made by February 15. Students may register at a reduced rate
of $25 to attend the sessions only.
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Eldridge Hotel in historic
downtown Lawrence, telephone 913-749-5011. Room rates are $67 for a
single or double (plus 9.9% accommodations tax). The number of rooms is
limited, so early registration is encouraged. Those attending from over-
seas,who would like to have shared rooms arranged, or who otherwise would
like assistance with accommodations should contact the organizers:
For further information, please contact Hagith S. Sivan, Dept of History,
Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66044, phone 913-864-3569; or, via EMAIL
Ralph W. Mathisen at [log in to unmask]
REGISTRATION FORM
Name _____________________________________________________________
Last First M.I.
Affiliation (if any) _____________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Phone: Office _______________ Home ________________________
EMAIL _______________ FAX ________________________
Arriving on ____________ airline at ________ (time) on ________ (date)
Registration Fee
Full registration fee of $96 includes copies of abstracts,
three breakfasts, three lunches, and two receptions; must be
enclosed to ensure hotel accommodations. Students may register
for $25 to attend sessions only.
I wish to register for ____ persons and enclose $__________
Please make payment to: Frontiers Conference
And mail to: If you register but are unable
Dr. Hagith Sivan/Frontiers to attend, please notify orga-
Dept. of History nizers at least one week before
University of Kansas the conference for refund of
Lawrence, KS 66044 registration fee.
N.B. For a hard copy of this form, please contact Ralph Mathisen at
the above EMAIL address.
