Under the theme: The Middle East and Europe: Cross-cultural, diplomatic and economic exchanges in the early modern period (1500-1820)

Abu Dhabi, 02 March, 2017

Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, one of the leading universities in the UAE, is organising an International conference under the theme” The Middle East and Europe: Cross-cultural, diplomatic and economic exchanges in the early modern period (1500-1820)”. Professors and experts from international and local universities will attend this conference, which will take place from the 4th to the 7th of March on the university’s campus in Al Reem Island.

This conference is an international symposium to study and analyse the entire range of exchanges and relations established between these two regions during the Early Modern Times (1500-1820). Its main objective is to consider the diplomatic, economic, religious and cultural links between Europe and the Middle East. The symposium will bring together over twenty researchers specialized in the Arab, Persian and Muslim studies to tackle such issues. In addition, this conference will provide a comprehensive overview to date of the Arabian Gulf at a time of major political changes, including the successive arrival of the European “trading empires”. This is a key period to understand the origins of the globalisation in today’s world. It will focus on some of the methodological challenges raised by a global and cross-cultural thinking approach to the History of the Middle East and Europe.

Dr. Yann Rodier, Assistant professor and Head of the History department at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi said: “Our international conference will highlight phenomenon of exchanges, circulations, cultural and religious influences, commercial networks and development of the other in a broadly connected world. Understanding the culture of others is the best way to foster its acceptance. In that sense, such a historical conference provides answers to the National Tolerance Programme set up by the UAE cabinet. This academic project also supports Sorbonne Abu Dhabi’s objective to create a ‘Bridge between civilisations’ aiming to strengthen links with other academic institutions in the Arabian Gulf and Europe and creating a regional hub for research in the Middle East”.

Dr. Rodier added: “The experts will study the evolving relations between Europe and the Middle East around the following three axes: trade and diplomacy, culture and religion, the representation and the public perception of the other in the East and the West. Researchers will deal with various historical figures such as merchants, pirates, travelers, ambassadors, Arab tribes, scholars…They will also use new primary sources in connection with the history of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula”.

In connection with the conference, an exhibition will take place at the university’s library. It will illustrate the same topics discussed during the conference in different forms like travel stories, maps, linguistic treatises, reports from the East India companies and diplomatic documents from a variety of historical sources. This exhibition will last from the 4th until the 16th of March 2017 at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi. The exhibition will focus on occidental and oriental sources to renew the visitor’s vision of history, which has so far been Eurocentric.

Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is organising the International Conference in cooperation with different French academic research centres like the Centre Roland Mousnier at Paris-Sorbonne University and the Labex EHNE (‘Ecrire une histoire nouvelle de l’Europe’). The university is also collaborating with local entities, which involves Abu Dhabi National Archives (NCDR), the French Cultural Institute and the Lycée français Louis Massignon as well as the Crossroads Civilizations Museum in Dubai founded by HE Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori and the library of New York University Abu Dhabi.

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About Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi 
Paris-Sorbonne University was established in May 2006, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces, and under the Abu Dhabi Education Council ADEC.

Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is an Emirati university that benefits from the 760 years of experience of the prestigious Sorbonne, with a state-of-the-art campus located on Al-Reem Island that combines comfort with the efficiency of new technologies. The methodology, education and degrees are French and issued by Paris-Sorbonne in the field of humanities; by Paris-Descartes for law, management and economics; and by Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) in the sciences.

Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is immensely proud to continue a remarkable heritage of Academic excellence that has been nurtured since the 12th century, and the same pursuit of perfection that has made our parent institution in Paris one of the world’s most prestigious beacons of enlightenment.

At present, more than 900 students from over 77 countries are enrolled in Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. We give our students the excellent standards of a Parisian education, offering a degree direct from the universities in Paris at our unique and thrilling location within the Arab world and its new cultural hub, Abu Dhabi. This is the very best of both worlds, and we ensure that we are always elevating students to the forefronts of their dream careers.

For more information

Visit PSUAD’s website: http://www.sorbonne.ae /   

For any queries or requests, please do not hesitate to contact:
Ali Bin Hatrash      
Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi     
Phone: +97150 666 0842         
Email : ali.hatrash@psuad.ac.ae                                                      

Rana Radwan
Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
Phone: + 971 55 31 966 13
Email : rana.radwan@psuad.ac.ae  

© Press Release 2017