Call for Papers: Violence in the Medieval and Early Modern North, Aberdeen Medieval and Early Modern Conference, University of Aberdeen (25-26 May 2026), Due by 29 Jan. 2026 at 18:59 ET/23:59 GMT

Call for Papers

Violence in the Medieval and Early Modern North

Aberdeen Medieval and Early Modern Conference

25-26 May 2026, University of Aberdeen, Scotland

Due by 29 January 2026 at 18:59 (ET)/ 23:59 (GMT)

At the second annual Aberdeen Medieval and Early Modern Conference, we encourage researchers to explore how violence was interpreted, enacted and avoided in the medieval and early modern north. How does the reality of the medieval and early modern world reflect how we view the past? How did distinct or militaristically violent roles (i.e. Vikings, Knights and Musketeers) handle the violence of their occupations? Do we still enact violence on the past as researchers? What were the aftereffects of violence, on the body, on architecture, and on society?

We are seeking papers on the topic of violence and its intersections with:

  • Memory and Trauma

  • Judicial and Legal Systems

  • Literature and Art History

  • Gender, Race, Class, and Disability Studies

  • Military and War Studies

  • Religious and Ecclesiastical History

  • Histories of Medicine and the Body

  • Medievalism and Early Modern Reception

  • History of Emotions (e.g. anger, humour etc.)

  • Ecocriticism

  • Manuscript Studies and Material Culture

While we invite papers on all parts of the north, we especially welcome papers on Aberdeen and northern Scotland.

The conference will be held on 25-26 May 2026 at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Please email abstracts of no more than 250 words to medievalandearlymodernaberdeen@gmail.com.

Deadline: 29 January 2026 @ 23:59 (GMT)