Public Lecture Series: THE MEDITERRANEAN IN WORLD HISTORY

THE MEDITERRANEAN IN WORLD HISTORY: LECTURE SERIES OVERVIEW The great twentieth-century historian Fernand Braudel revolutionised our understanding of the history of the sea when he argued that the Mediterranean was a positive space rather than the emptiness between the regions, empires, nations and cities on its coasts. This lecture will explore how a myriad peoples and cultures have interacted with each other for millennia across this sea through religion, trade, migration, warfare and piracy. It will test the idea that many elements of our human identity and culture were formed through Mediterranean interactions. The lecture series will look at the Mediterranean's diverse roles, among them: the setting for Greek myths and the voyages of ancient heroes; the centre of the Roman Empire; the battle front between Islam and Christianity; the heart of a vast trade system between Italian city states, Islamic regimes, and grand merchant empires and the play ground of travellers since the eighteenth century.

THE SHAPE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITS EARLIEST HISTORY: ANCIENT EMPIRES TO  GREEK CITY STATES Mon, Tue 7.30-9pm May 1 2

ONE SEA, MANY SEAS: THE ROMANS, BYZANTINES, MUSLIMS AND THE CRUSADES Sat, Sun 7.30-9pm May 6 7

PROSPERITY, DECLINE AND REBIRTH: FROM MEDIEVAL TRADE TRADE EMPIRES TO THE GROWTH OF MODERN TOURISM Wed, Thu 7.30-9pm May 10 11 Code 0620114 $129 for six lectures

Bookings can also be made for series of 2 lectures. ($59)

About the presenter: Chris Wood is the founder and director of Australians Studying Abroad. He is an associate of the Fine Arts Dept, University of Melbourne and the History Department, Monash University. He has taught at the University of Melbourne, Monash and LaTrobe Universities, and for the Rhode Island School of Design. He has published two books, on Australian architectural history and on travel, has contributed to two collections of essays on travel theory, and co-scripted and narrated two documentary films on Tuscan history. His photographs are published in many Lonely Planet guide books. Since he founded ASA in 1976 he has led over 90 tours to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the USA and Asia for both Australians and Americans.

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