Fourteenth Annual World History Association Conference
June
27-29 2005, Al Akhawayn University,
Ifrane, Morocco
The WHA held its 2005
conference at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane,
Morocco.
The conference’s dual themes, “The Mediterranean in World History” and
“Africa in World
History,” were chosen because they reflect Morocco’s
special geographic and cultural position in world history. Located in the Middle
Atlas Mountains near the historic walled
city of Fez,
Al Akhawayn University is an English-medium
university, whose faculty, administration, and students showered the WHA and the
conference’s 159 confereees from 22 different nations with
numerous examples of Moroccan hospitality. Two highlights of the conference were
a university sponsored welcoming reception replete with Moroccan
delicacies and held within a desert tent, with lively Berber music and dancing
for entertainment (See the brief video), and the
end-of-conference banquet, held under the stars, where tables were laden with
traditional Moroccan foods that sated even the most jaded appetites, and a
Berber wedding band played music that tempted even the most staid scholars in
attendance to get up and dance.
Between the opening
reception and the closing banquet, two days were filled with exciting panels on
a wide variety of topics. See the program for panel titles and papers presented. Additionally, two keynote speakers
addressed the conference’s dual themes.
Keynote Speakers
Professor Abderrahmane El Moudden,
Department of History, University Mohammed V, Rabat; Visiting Fulbright Scholar,
Princeton University
“Crossing towards the Other: Conflict and
Interchange around the Mediterranean in the last Millennium”
Summary
Despite
all the enmity and hatred that seem to be wrapping world affairs today, world
history, when considered in the longue durée, shows today much more interchange, even through
conflict, than in previous centuries. If knowing the Other is the first step towards understanding and accepting
alterity, we can assume that today’s world is much
closer to the stage where knowledge of the Other limits tension and conflict.
Yet, conversely, knowledge may be used as intelligence and be then a means of
power and domination at the disposal of the most powerful. Hence, it can be at
the origin of worsening misunderstandings. In a seesaw movement, clash and
dialogue compete to win over the relations between world societies and
states. Major movements set the stage for a broad periodization: Jihad vs Crusades,
conquests and counter-conquests; Renaissance and Nahda, colonial powers vs new
nations; between clash and dialogue.
Professor David Northrup, Department of History,
Boston College.
President, World History Association.
"Africa in World History: Perspectives
and Problems."
Summary
While Africans
have clearly made important contributions to world history, there has been
considerable discussion recently about which patterns were most important
and if the geographical continent and the externally generated notion of
"Africa" are encompass a single historical
experience. This talk explores the roles of folk traditions and Great Traditions
have played in different parts of Africa and the
different meanings "Africa in World History " has when viewed from within the continent and from
outside it.
And After
the Dancing Ended
Following the
conference, 59 conferees embarked on a five-day tour of
Morocco, and an
additional 21 participated in a one-day tour of
Fez. Needless, to say, this was a
conference memorable for its intellectual stimulation, cultural interchange, and
fun. Join us at Long Beach for the
15th Annual WHA Conference, 22-25 June 2006, where the stimulation,
interchange, and fun will continue!
Link to
Program
Link to
15th Annual Conference at Long Beach
Link to a Photo Collection from the Conference
Return
to WHA Homepage