The Indian Ocean - Terrains of Meaning and Materiality: Technology and Cultural Commerce

The Indian Ocean – perhaps more than any other ocean – is a site of connection as much as of separation; a space traversed, mapped, shared, and contested by intercontinental migrants and traders for at least three millennia. This colloquium pioneers a boldly inter-disciplinary exploration of terrains of meaning and materiality in this unique cultural space, uniting Indian Ocean specialists from across South-East Asia and beyond. Our objective in staging this event is to begin a process of collaboration, exploring interconnections and overlaps between disparate scholars working on these issues across disciplines and periods.

An International Colloquium
This colloquium focuses particularly on how technological innovation and exchange has shaped and sustained intercultural dialogues, from the first trans-oceanic missions and migrations, through sea-borne colonial and imperial projects, to the emergence of a dynamic public sphere in the context of late 19th century modernisations and through to the present day. Looking forwards as well as back over time, presentations will explore the vast and proliferating range of networks across the region. As such networks open up alternative and ‘virtual’ spaces for the circulation of ideas and commodities, and for the emergence and development of inter-continental and trans-oceanic identities, communities, and migrations, the social and cultural history of technology is perhaps more crucial than ever for an understanding of the Indian Ocean basin and its pivotal role in constructing modernity.

Speakers include:

• Sumit Mandal, UKM
• Fernando Rosa, UM
• Tim Harper, Cambridge, UK
• Mark Frost, Essex, UK
• Joana Passos, Universidade do Minho, Portugal