By some accounts, 1017 marked the advent of the Norman presence in Italy and Sicily, inaugurating a new era of invasion, interaction and integration in the Mediterranean. Whether or not we decide the millennial anniversary is significant, the moment offers an ideal opportunity to explore the story in the south, about a thousand years ago. To what extent did the Normans establish a cross-cultural empire? What can we learn by comparing the impact of the Norman presence in different parts of Europe? What insights are discoverable in comparing local histories of Italy and Sicily with broader historical ideas about transformation, empire and exchange? The conference aims to draw together establishes, early-career and post-graduate scholars for a joint investigation of the Normans in the South to explore together the many meetings of cultural, political and religious ideas in the Mediterranean in the central Middle Ages.

Proposals for three-paper sessions, as well as individual proposals for 20-minute papers, are welcome. Comparative studies are particularly encouraged.

Themes and Topics could include: – Sicily as a cultural crossroads – Crusading – The Normans and empire – Islamic interactions – Political leadership – Social change: women, men and families – Norman Conquests compared: Italy, Sicily, and other parts of Europe – Reactions to the Norman presence in the South, then and now – Impact on Italy as a whole – Migration – Local history: micro-perspectives on macro-trends