This symposium will highlight the role of cosmopolitan ideologies as an integrative force in the aristocratic empires of ancient Eurasia. Encompassing the Assyrian, Achaemenian, Seleukid, Parthian, Roman, Sasanian and Han Chinese empires, it will explore how imperial and local elites conceptualised their place within a world order and examine the political importance of these ideologies in binding together extensive and culturally diverse polities in the absence of a strong state.

We have three goals for the symposium. Firstly, we aim to contribute to the comparative cultural history of ancient Eurasian empires. Although a number of excellent economic and social histories of ancient empires recently appeared, much less attention has been given to the subjective experience of empire, as mediated through ancient texts and material culture. Secondly, we intend to offer a global historical perspective on the forms of cosmopolitanism that developed in different ancient cultures. By bringing the cosmopolitan traditions of the Mediterranean, Near East, and East Asia together for the first time, we hope to trace their peculiar lines of development and pathways of exchange. Thirdly, we would like to invite social scientists to consider the ancient Eurasian origins of modern cosmopolitan concepts. Over the past decade, sociologists, philosophers, and political theorists have begun to debate the ethical content of cosmopolitanism in an age of globalization. These discussions have yet to take seriously the ancient imperial roots of still influential traditions, which have important implications for our understanding of contemporary cosmopolitanism.

The symposium will be hosted by the Internationales Wissenschaftsforum Heidelberg. Non-speakers are very welcome to intend, but we request that all participants be present for the whole academic programme (Friday July 19th, 9 am – 1 pm, Saturday July 20th). If you wish participate at the two lunches, there will be a fee of 50€ to cover expenses.

If you are interested in attending, please contact John Weisweiler at j.weisweiler@uni-heidelberg.de by June 30 at the latest.

The symposium is funded by the Thyssen Foundation, the Universities of St Andrews and Heidelberg and the European Research Council.