The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Ancient Studies Graduate Student Conference will be held April 17 to 18, 2026. The conference, “The Countryside in Perspective: Rurality and Localism in Antiquity” will discuss historical sources and explore new methodologies related to the study of countrysides in Antiquity. By partaking in this conference, participants may develop new insight into how ancient societies articulated and perceived rurality, how rural communities adapted to their local social and environment landscapes, and how different countrysides were connected to the wider world.
In Antiquity, countrysides were not only landscapes relied upon for subsistence agriculture. Rural landscapes were necessary for countless social practices such as the enactment of religious rituals, exploitation of valuable resources, manufacture of consumer goods, or the pursuit of leisure. All ancient communities interacted with countrysides in a variety of ways depending on their own beliefs and practices. Despite the centrality of countrysides to lived experiences in Antiquity, ancient rural communities and the practices occurring in these landscapes have often been interpreted as secondary to the social processes in cities. To create a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient world beyond the boundaries of urban settlements, both the perspective and perception of ancient countrysides must be evaluated and incorporated into the historical narratives that academic disciplines construct. A starting point for this endeavor is offered by the pairing of the concepts of rurality and localism. This combination may facilitate the creation of analytical perspectives and methodologies that encompass how different ancient communities understood certain localities, behaviors, or practices as rural or belonging to a countryside.
Graduate students are encouraged to submit abstracts for papers that engage with the study of countrysides in Antiquity. Proposals should include a title and an abstract not exceeding 250 words. All submissions must also include a short bio (less than 100 words), email address, and academic affiliation along with the paper abstract. All submissions can be made through this Google Form. The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday, February 13th, 2026.
See the Call for Papers featured below or email cas.upenn@gmail.com for additional information.
