The Circle for Late Antique and Medieval Studies at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at The Graduate Center, CUNY, is a forum for scholars working on the period covering roughly 300-1400 CE. The Circle hopes to engage scholars working on the Eurasian and Afro-Asian worlds in an interdisciplinary, comparative study of this fascinating period of history when the bases of the modern world were established. We aim at highlighting the direct relevance of this — as of yet still neglected — period of history to our contemporary and modern world history. When does Late Antiquity end and Medieval begin in history? Are the terms applicable to all cultural areas of Eurasian and Afro-Asian worlds? Can one think of this period globally? Can one compare and contrast the late antique and medieval worlds across the Eurasian and Afro-Asian worlds? How can scholars working on this period talk to each other in a truly interdisciplinary fashion? The Circle anticipates having lively forums and workshops throughout the academic year to address these issues of import to the scholars of the field. Through the Circle, we hope to establish a dialog with colleagues working on modern history, bringing to bear a better understanding of our contemporary lives.
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