Few events in European history generated as many textual, artistic, and intellectual responses as the conquest of Jerusalem by the armies of the First Crusade in 1099. This expedition, and those that followed it, were resonant events which became inscribed in the collective memory of communities directly or indirectly affected by the crusades, whether in Europe, Byzantium, North Africa, or the Near East.

In order to spotlight new directions in the study of the crusades and the perception of the past in medieval societies, the Center for Medieval Studies invites scholars of all disciplines to participate in a conference to be held at Fordham University on March 29-30, 2008. We welcome proposals for papers (twenty minutes in length) on any topic relating to how the crusades were remembered. Topics might include, but are not limited to: (1) the memorialization (or suppression) of individuals or events associated with the crusades by contemporary observers and subsequent generations; (2) the negotiation and production of crusading images and memories; and (3) the role of these images and memories in shaping both the crusading movement itself and the identities of communities affected by crusading

We look forward to joining with like-minded scholars from across the field of medieval studies in what promises to be a very lively academic discussion on this important subject.

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