International Conference, Valencia, October 17-18th 2019
The Group of Research on the Reception of Classical Literature (GIRLC) organizes an international interdisciplinary conference whose main topic deals with the contacts between the Graeco-roman and the Eastern literary traditions, and also its reception in medieval and modern literatures. The main goals are, on the one hand, to show the results of the research group in its own filed of studies, namely the reception of both Latin and Greek literature in medieval one, and, on the other, to create an open exchange of ideas and research in order to establish a connection among scholars from different fields and academic milieus.
To do so, we will accept proposals on the mutual influence between Graeco-roman and Eastern literature. The links of the Greek civilization with the Orient were already evident before the expedition of Alexander the Great. His control over those territories contributed, however, to open new routes explored later by Rome. The news coming from these new lands had a large influence over Graeco-Roman literature and helped to create not only an exotic vision of the amazing things founded, but also a deeper interest on their political models, habits or knowledge.
This interest does not decline centuries later. In fact, commercial routes were used during Middle Ages as well. At this time these topics of the Graeco-roman literature on Eastern way of life were constantly evoked and even new ones were created. Finally, the birth of comparative method in modern times offered a new way of study, sometimes characterized by Eurocentric feelings and prejudices, stimulating idealized visions such as that of the Romantic movement in the 19thcentury.
