This year on the 4th of September, de Werkgroep de Zeventiende Eeuw, Werkgroep de Achttiende Eeuw and the VNVNG are organising a joint conference for the first time, focusing on Early Modern Ecologies. The goal is to bring together the broader early modern community and exchange ideas about the complex relationships between humans and nonhumans within ecological networks in the early modern period (c. 1500–1850), and their representations.
How did early modern human societies relate to natural resources, landscapes, nonhuman animals, and plants? What ideas existed about balance, sustainability, entanglement, exploitation, and extraction? And how were these ideas expressed in literature, art, crafts, philosophy, science, religion, law, and politics?
They welcome contributions that engage with ecology from a broad perspective, addressing both material and discursive practices. Case studies, theoretical or methodological reflections, and proposals for panel discussions are welcome. Abstracts of approximately 300 words, accompanied by a short bio, should be sent by April 1, 2026.
More information via this link.
