Crisis management in late antiquity: the evidence of Episcopal letters. Appropriate responses to environmental and social crises, by individuals, communities, governments, religious and charitable organisations, are increasingly under focus in the twenty-first century. Understanding the failures of past leaders as well as their successes is crucial for values-driven policy making. This project reinforces the international reputation of quality Australian research in late-antiquity studies by anc ....Crisis management in late antiquity: the evidence of Episcopal letters. Appropriate responses to environmental and social crises, by individuals, communities, governments, religious and charitable organisations, are increasingly under focus in the twenty-first century. Understanding the failures of past leaders as well as their successes is crucial for values-driven policy making. This project reinforces the international reputation of quality Australian research in late-antiquity studies by anchoring contemporary responses to management of crises such as natural disasters, climate change, population displacement, poverty, religious disputes, violence, and social abuses in their historical antecedents. The project will develop and reinforce existing links with scholars in Japan, Korea, Belgium and South Africa.Read moreRead less
The development of the cult of Mary in North African Christianity (100 - 431 C.E.). As part of international collaborative research dedicated to dispassionate examination of the development of the cult of Mary from 100 to 431 CE, this project deals with literary evidence from North Africa, in which the works of Augustine dominate. The Latin texts will be examined philologically, theologically and historically in order to reconstruct Mary's place in early Christianity, the raw data made available ....The development of the cult of Mary in North African Christianity (100 - 431 C.E.). As part of international collaborative research dedicated to dispassionate examination of the development of the cult of Mary from 100 to 431 CE, this project deals with literary evidence from North Africa, in which the works of Augustine dominate. The Latin texts will be examined philologically, theologically and historically in order to reconstruct Mary's place in early Christianity, the raw data made available online, and the results disseminated through conference papers, monographs and journal articles. This research, the first of its kind, will make a contribution to women's studies, and to the study of late antique culture and hagiography.Read moreRead less
Scripts without a stage: Roman comedy in the Early Italian Renaissance. In the early Italian Renaissance at a time when theatrical infrastructure was still lacking, rapid advances in learning and technology helped scholars to show how the Latin plays, which had only survived as teaching texts, were in fact works to be performed, eventually leading to stage revivals. This project proposes to build on the successes of an Australian team working on the Roman playwright Terence, and demonstrate the ....Scripts without a stage: Roman comedy in the Early Italian Renaissance. In the early Italian Renaissance at a time when theatrical infrastructure was still lacking, rapid advances in learning and technology helped scholars to show how the Latin plays, which had only survived as teaching texts, were in fact works to be performed, eventually leading to stage revivals. This project proposes to build on the successes of an Australian team working on the Roman playwright Terence, and demonstrate the importance of humanist scholars to intellectual history. It intends to utilise a range of historical resources, many only available in recent years through digitisation.Read moreRead less
Renegotiating the Origins of History: A Study of Early Modern Historical Writing as Practiced by Leonardo Bruni and His Contemporaries. This project will pioneer a new account of the origins of modern historical writing, one which will focus on the political affiliations of foundational figures. Such a study is of vital importance to the community in a time when an intense public debate is being waged over conflicting interpretations of our national past. Participants in this debate have some ....Renegotiating the Origins of History: A Study of Early Modern Historical Writing as Practiced by Leonardo Bruni and His Contemporaries. This project will pioneer a new account of the origins of modern historical writing, one which will focus on the political affiliations of foundational figures. Such a study is of vital importance to the community in a time when an intense public debate is being waged over conflicting interpretations of our national past. Participants in this debate have sometimes appealed to pure disciplinary origins, accusing their opponents of politicizing history. This study will show that political engagement was a central feature of Western historiography from its inception, and will explore the way politics underpinned the early development of the discipline.Read moreRead less
The Vandal Renaissance: Latin Literature in Post-Roman Africa (435-534CE). The project aims to investigate the Latin literature of the Vandal kingdom of North Africa. It expects to identify a vibrant literary culture that celebrated multicultural diversity, embraced the Classical tradition, and contributed to Christian theology, while helping form a distinct Vandal identity. Expected outcomes include a more detailed understanding of the intellectual influences on Vandal African authors, the mech ....The Vandal Renaissance: Latin Literature in Post-Roman Africa (435-534CE). The project aims to investigate the Latin literature of the Vandal kingdom of North Africa. It expects to identify a vibrant literary culture that celebrated multicultural diversity, embraced the Classical tradition, and contributed to Christian theology, while helping form a distinct Vandal identity. Expected outcomes include a more detailed understanding of the intellectual influences on Vandal African authors, the mechanics of Vandal court patronage, and the breadth of these authors' contribution to the history of Latin literature. The project will benefit Australian culture by providing a detailed historical example of the benefits and challenges of a multicultural society.Read moreRead less
The Clash of Sacred and Secular Authority in the Letters of Innocent I. The ecumenical significance of achieving a better understanding of the historical development of papal primacy revealed in the letters of Pope Innocent I consists in part in the promotion of core Australian values like tolerance and respect, which contributes to improved social cohesion and harmony. Examining the impact of religious values in shaping the European cultural fabric in a critical transition period enhances the c ....The Clash of Sacred and Secular Authority in the Letters of Innocent I. The ecumenical significance of achieving a better understanding of the historical development of papal primacy revealed in the letters of Pope Innocent I consists in part in the promotion of core Australian values like tolerance and respect, which contributes to improved social cohesion and harmony. Examining the impact of religious values in shaping the European cultural fabric in a critical transition period enhances the current Australian debate about the relationship between religion and politics in national life.Read moreRead less
Poverty and Welfare in Late Antiquity. Poverty and the provision of welfare are key concerns in Australia today. Many of the problems we face - refugee influxes, inflated housing costs, increased competition between charities for limited resources - are paralleled in late antiquity. This is a critical time in history that has unique things to say to Australian society today. A focussed study of this turning-point in history provides a novel perspective from which to assess the implications of cu ....Poverty and Welfare in Late Antiquity. Poverty and the provision of welfare are key concerns in Australia today. Many of the problems we face - refugee influxes, inflated housing costs, increased competition between charities for limited resources - are paralleled in late antiquity. This is a critical time in history that has unique things to say to Australian society today. A focussed study of this turning-point in history provides a novel perspective from which to assess the implications of current Australian trends, in which welfare is increasingly being devolved upon non-government organisations. It also enlarges the foundation for a dialogue on these issues, assisting in creating better solutions at both a government and non-government level.Read moreRead less
The Ancient Today: Living Traditions of Classical Language Education. This project aims to compare, for the first time, ancient language education across world cultures with ‘classical’ literatures. It expects to illumine the purpose and value of classical language education in Chinese, Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit historically and within global education systems today by comparing pedagogic ideals and practices across times and cultures. It aims to test the potential of inclusive classical langua ....The Ancient Today: Living Traditions of Classical Language Education. This project aims to compare, for the first time, ancient language education across world cultures with ‘classical’ literatures. It expects to illumine the purpose and value of classical language education in Chinese, Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit historically and within global education systems today by comparing pedagogic ideals and practices across times and cultures. It aims to test the potential of inclusive classical language learning to boost educational outcomes for disadvantaged students. Other expected outcomes include two books, scholarly articles, education policy reports, and PhD student training. This should strengthen intercultural understanding and benefit school students, educators, policy makers and the wider public.Read moreRead less