Seminar: Towards a new global history of Javanese court culture, politics and governance

Javanese courts and their significance as centers of governance, politics and culture have been the object of meticulous study. Few historians have however ventured to explore these courts and their histories beyond their Javanese or Indonesian contexts. This seminar aims to both decolonize, expand and ‘demystify’ our understanding of Javanese court culture beyond its overemphasized sanctified, ritual-ceremonial role in Javanese society. The aim is to focus on the worldly and human aspects of Javanese courts, and expose their ties to growing processes of global commercial and political interaction, intercultural diplomacy, colonial power.

More information and call for papers.

Call for papers ends 24th of March 2023.