Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology presents:

Traditions of Learning and Networks of Knowledge

The Indian Ocean: Trans-regional creation of societies and cultures
29-30 September, 2001

OXFORD, UK

The Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology (ISCA), University of Oxford, invites submissions for a workshop on, "Traditions of Learning and Networks of Knowledge" in a series on The Indian Ocean: Trans-regional creation of societies and cultures.
 
The series provides an interdisciplinary forum for anthropologists, historians, archaeologists, and other disciplines, to discuss the historical and contemporary junctures, continuities and relationships between societies and cultures of the Indian Ocean region, i.e., the countries of Eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf, Iran, Pakistan, the Indian Sub-Continent, and South East Asia.  Three workshops have been held thus far: (1) Inside and Outside the Mosque (March 1998); (2)  Ships and the Development of Maritime Technology (May 1998); and (3) Textiles (March 1999).   Edited proceedings of these workshops have been published by Curzon Press.

The fourth workshop will focus on traditions of learning and networks of knowledge around the Indian Ocean.  Specifically: (1) the work of notable writers, religious scholars, geographers and others who have contributed to our knowledge of the region; (2) the impact of formal institutions of learning such as monastic orders, colonial schools, madrasas, guilds who transport(ed) knowledge around the region; (3) the role of family networks, information technology and less formalised systems of knowledge transmission; (4) the framing, transmission and interpretation of oral and written texts, material and visual culture, ceremonial and ritual life; (5) the competition between local centres, patrons and custodians of knowledge for prominence. 

Papers should have a clear local focus and seek to connect two or more communities/areas in the region, or address a topic that clearly warrants cross-cultural comparison.   Submissions from scholars resident in the Indian Ocean region are highly encoura-
ged. Closing date for abstracts is June 1, 2001

Abstracts (150 words) may be submitted to:

Gina Burrows
E-mail: gina.burrows@anthro.ox.ac.uk
Mail: Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology
51 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 6PE 

Tel: +44 (0)1865 274678  Fax: +44 (0)1865 274630

Updated workshop information will be posted at the following web sites:
www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/isca and www.transcomm.ox.ac.uk