Cluster 1: Mediterranean Topographies Cluster

of the core topic “Trans-Mediterranean Entanglements - Mobilities and Relations in the Mediterranean and beyond”

The cluster Mediterrane Topographien sheds light on trans-Mediterranean interdependencies on the basis of their topographical and geographical preconditions by focussing on islands, settlements, sea currents, mountains, the hinterland, transport routes and transport restrictions. On this basis, it examines the development of communities, the formation of larger political contexts through to the emergence of great empires and colonial powers; it deals with the circulation of goods, trade and exchange relations, the migration of groups or individuals, but also with the movement of texts and ideas generated within Mediterranean communities or entering them from outside. Languages and their translation, artistic and literary representation are also of great importance for such relationships.


Speaker of the cluster:

Prof. Dr. Steffen Schneider

Map ©Portolankarte des Kartographen Bartolome Olives; hergestellt in Venedig, 1559. Digitalisat der Bodleian Library

Research topics at a glance:

  • Mediterranean Topographies and Border Regimes in Contemporary Global Artistic Practices (Sabine Flach, Katrin Nahidi, Elisabeth Zuparic-Bernhard)
  • Insularity and Quarantine in Fictional Spaces. Critical reflections on Orhan Pamuk's novel "Veba Geceleri" and its translations (Agnes Grond, Sevil Celik-Tsonev)
  • Cultural and linguistic diversity in the work of Hüseyin A. Şimşek: Possibilities and limitations in translating literary texts (Agnes Grond, Sevil Celik-Tsonev)
  • Maritime republics and language contact: on the development of the Corsican and Sardinian language areas (Sabine Heinemann)
  • Insularity in the Mediterranean and beyond (Gabriele Koiner)
  • Port cities as multiple spaces of longing (Landskron, Alice)
  • Alps-Danube-Adriatic: Mediterranean high culture spills (sustainably) over the Alps (Manfred Lehner)
  • Human-animal relations (or multispecies approaches) in Prehistoric Cyprus (Laerke Recht)
  • The Topography of Ancient Cyprus (Laerke Recht, Chiara Zuanni, Gabriele Koiner)
  • Mediterranean Port Cities as Narrative Models (Steffen Schneider,)
  • Roman written monuments from Aquileia and Friuli (Wolfgang Spickermann)
  • Mediterranean hinterland - curse or blessing? (Elisabeth Trinkl)