Our Workshops
The research objectives of this international and interdisciplinary project are structured
primarily through the scholarly and creative outcomes of three, thematic and hands-on workshops.
About Our Workshops
The framing of the term “global” is hardly ever questioned in much of what passes as global history, global literatures, and global humanities. Often, the term is understood as a concept that’s by and large padded by the Anglo-Saxon academic discourse of the 90s. Within this framing of the global, connections, voices from the margins, and autonomous histories are emphasized with a hope that some kind of renewed understanding of global experience can be extracted from these diverse perspectives. All that is very noble and applaudable. Who doesn’t want equity in the way we create our discourses?
However, the problem with this kind of multipolar perspective is that it assumes that conflicting histories can be presented side by side without ever questioning the legitimacy of their larger discursive legacies. Such liberal-pluralist approaches to the global flatten the differences and reduce political projects to mere commodities while making their own politics of framing the discourse invisible. Too often, the structures of so-called global knowledge contribute more to our ignorance of non-western societies and premodern pasts than to a meaningful understanding of their differences.
One can see such a framing of the global in almost any handbook of global history, international law, etcetera, wherein these structures of thought and language remain by and large Eurocentric. Historians continue to frame the experience of time in the temporal markers of European historiography, and literary scholars are rarely able to provide a glimpse into literary imagination of a non-western past without referring to the genres that have come to be theorized from within the western literary tradition.
Our workshops hope to inspire a radical shift in the language through which we come to engage the global pasts. Only through a diversely collaborative thinking project like the Global Past Research Initiative can we hope not just to provincialize Europe, but to think outside of its given epistemologies and to conceptualize the global from the non-western hemisphere of the globe.
Workshop 1: Toronto, Canada
February 4-5, 2023
Collaborative Digital Research Space
Maanjiwe nendamowinan Building | University of Toronto Mississauga
Over a wintery weekend in February, this two-day workshop facilitated an inaugural dialogue among scholars across our four collaborating institutions, including the University of Toronto, the American University in Cairo, the Institut français de Pondychéry, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
Taking full advantage of what we had missed and what we had learned during the pandemic, we gathered in a physical space, sat around a table, and talked while having snacks! At the same time, we were joined virtually by our fellow scholars across the globe, benefitting from the convenience of online collaboration.
What We Did
Centering our core objectives of interdisciplinarity, equity, and the value of personal histories, the workshop featured 3 panel presentations.
Among the many topics covered, Ajay Rao discussed how politics allow for and influence local and national narratives of the past. Maria Hupfield shared how the living archive of Indigenous oral history and cultural memory can be preserved, retrieved, and transmitted. Suleyman Dost revealed how the materiality of historical evidence can fill the gaps in our pictures of the past.
Concluding with a roundtable discussion, we reflected on what we had learned from one another and posed a new set of complex and significant questions: Is a truly global dialogue possible? How can we work together and outside our own fields? How can we meaningfully engage the diversity of the global pasts to inform the teachings of the modern humanities?
We will continue these avenues of inquiry in our next workshop, which is slated to take place in Cairo, Egypt, February 17-24, 2024. In a new city with a deep history and through a novel collaborative framework, we hope to challenge our presumptions, break past habits, and pave a new path for humanities research.
The Panels
Take a closer look at the topics discussed over this generative opening weekend.
DAY 1
DAY 2
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
Opening Remarks
9:30 – 10:45 AM
SESSION 1:
Bridges into the Past: Genres of Looking Back
“Dangers of the Past: The Politics of Historiographic Epistemology”
Ajay Rao, Department of Historical Studies, U of T
“Mapping the Global through Microhistories: A Preliminary Inquiry”
Heba Mostafa, Department of Art History, U of T
“Saints and their Lives: History, Hagiography, Literature”
Amina Elbendary, Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations, AUC
Discussant
Karen Ruffle, Department of Historical Studies, U of T
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
SESSION 2:
The Order of Time: Archiving the Past
“An Open Archive for Palm-leaf Manuscripts? A Few Reflections Based on Two South Indian Collections”
Hugo David, Indology Department, EFEO
“Finding Time in the History of Art”
SeungJung Kim, Department of Art History, U of T
“A Living Archive”
Maria Hupfield, Department of Visual Studies, U of T
Discussant
Walid Saleh, Department for the Study of Religion, U of T
12:15 PM – 12:30 PM
Closing Remarks
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Arrival and Morning Refreshments
9:30 – 10:45 AM
SESSION 3:
Going Global: Philosophy, History & Material Culture
“Writing on the Wall: Reflections on the Uses of Material Culture as Historical Sources”
Sulyeman Dost, Department of Historical and Cultural Studies, U of T
“Shaping the Past of Philosophy While Nurturing its Present: Challenges in South Asian Context”
Mrinal Kaul, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay
“A South Italian Pilgrimage Shrine as Global Hub”
Jill Caskey, Department of Visual Studies, U of T
Discussant
Alexandra Gillespie, Department of English and Drama, U of T
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
SESSION 4:
Futures of our Pasts: Possible New Directions in Humanistic Inquiry
A moderated, roundtable discussion, curated around the following questions:
1. What have we learned from the work of others in this workshop?
2. Is a truly global dialogue possible?
3. How can we meaningfully engage the diversity of the global pasts to inform the teachings of the modern humanities?
Moderators
Jill Caskey and Ajay Rao, Co-Principal Investigators
12:15 PM – 12:30 PM
Closing Remarks
Workshop 2: Cairo, Egypt
Throughout the week, our graduate student participants interviewed one another about their experience. Listen as they reflect on the most memorable moments of the workshop.
February 18-24, 2024
American University in Cairo
Institutional Sponsor | University of Toronto Mississauga
This weeklong international workshop was organized around visits to Coptic, Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk sites and to museums, including the Grand Egyptian Museum and Museum of Islamic Art. Working in small groups, graduate students and scholars across five institutions — including the American University in Cairo, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, the University of Toronto, Cairo University, and Ain Shams University — focused on a particular site, collection, or object and presented their observations in situ to the full group. Presentations drew upon a common list of readings selected to inspire interdisciplinary dialogue and prompt methodological reflection.
In advance of the workshop, select faculty from the University of Toronto met with Dr. Adam Talib, Associate Professor in the Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations, to explore the potential of establishing doctoral programming in the Humanities at AUC. Roundtable discussions at the end of the workshop provided additional opportunities for group reflection and deliberation, alongside special lectures, optional site visits, and social events held throughout the week.
What We Did
DAY 1
Sunday, Feb 18, 2024
We began with an opening reception, featuring a sumptuous catered lunch at AUC’s Tahrir Campus. Situated amid the vibrant streets of Old Cairo, this historic campus exudes charm and cultural significance. In the heart of this bustling city, a single block proudly hosts a synagogue, a mosque, and an Armenian church, epitomizing Cairo’s role as a nexus of Mediterranean religious diversity.
Following the reception, working groups convened in the serene ambiance of AUC’s outdoor courtyard, collaborating in person, after months of virtual dialogue scheduled across our disparate geographies. Majestic cats weaved gracefully through our feet, adding a touch of enchantment to our scholarly discourse. The day ended with a Nile Cruise — a legendary evening of entertainment, food, and new friendships.
Prelude to the Pyramids
DAY 2
Monday, Feb 19, 2024
Day 2 kicked off with a special prelude at the Grand Egyptian Museum. While only certain sections were accessible, the towering relics of the ancient Egyptian world set the stage for our eagerly anticipated visit to the Pyramids of Giza. Exiting the museum, the distant sight of three stone giants captured our attention. Drawing closer, the sheer magnitude of these structures left us in awe. The base of the pyramids stood five times taller than the average person. Beyond their size, we marveled at the immense labour invested in their construction.
Old Cairo
DAY 3
Tuesday, Feb 20, 2024
Day 3 began at the infamous “Elevated Church,” one of the earliest known Christian worship sites. Nearby, the Coptic Museum showcased a vast collection of early Christian artifacts, including manuscripts, scrolls, architectural fragments, and liturgical instruments. Winding through the cobblestone-streets of Old Cairo’s narrow quarters, we arrived at the historic Ben Ezra Synagogue. Despite an 18th-century renovation, its interior maintains the original Torah-adorned altar, and the airy two-story structure contrasts sharply with the cramped streets outside. By noon, we arrived on Rhoda Island, intending to visit the Nilometer, a secluded gem along the Nile. Unfortunately, it was unexpectedly closed to the public. Thankfully, our colleague Heba Mostafa negotiated with site officials to secure a brief visit. Inside, we observed the ancient flood-measuring device, enriched by Heba’s insightful narration. We ended the day at the Fustat Traditional Crafts Center, delving into the rich history of pottery production techniques while exploring open-door workshops and observing artisans at work on their current projects.
New Cairo
DAY 4
Wednesday, Feb 21, 2024
Shifting to a more tranquil pace, we explored the serene world of libraries and museums. Inside the Rare Books Library at AUC’s satellite campus in New Cairo, we viewed drawings by the renowned architect Hassan Fathy, photographs from the Creswell collection, and an array of ultra-rare books detailing Egypt’s history. Trekking back to Old Cairo, we engaged with a treasure trove of medieval manuscripts and book-making tools at the National Library Museum. This visit offered a moment to reflect on Egypt’s role as a religious crossroads for Coptic Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The neighbouring Museum of Islamic Art displayed impressive artifacts, from portable mihrabs to ceramic doorways and astrolabes, emphasizing Egypt’s vibrant Islamic heritage. In the evening, we enjoyed a mesmerizing Tanoura performance, a whirlwind of color, light, rhythm, and folkloric dance.
City of Empires
DAY 5-6
Thursday, Feb 22 – Friday, Feb 23, 2024
Itineraries for days 5 and 6 centered on exploring the architectural legacies of the Fatimid, Ayyubid, and Mamluk Empires. Engaging on-site presentations spurred rich discussions about the profound cultural exchanges between European and Islamic realms, vividly illustrated by landmarks like the al-Aqmar Mosque and the Qala’un Complex.
The al-Aqmar’s façade, adorned with pointed arches and intricate roundels reminiscent of medieval rose windows, mesmerized us. Similarly, the Qala’un Complex’s pointed arches not only embellished its exterior but also delineated its internal structure, evoking comparisons to Gothic churches and prompting inquiries into its historical roots. Despite site constraints occasionally leading to abruptly terminated floor plans, these structures maintained a steadfast orientation towards Mecca, emphasizing their Islamic identity.
Day 5 culminated with a guided tour of the shrine of Imam al-Shafi’i, led by preservation architect May al-Ibrashy. Inside, a hand-crafted wooden cenotaph adorned with Kufic and Naskhi inscriptions stood beneath the iconic dome. Scaling the minarets, we braved fierce winds to admire the breathtaking vista of Old Cairo. Transitioning to the grandeur of the Mamluk Empire, our penultimate day unfolded amid colossal landmarks, such as the Sultan Hassan Mosque and Muayyad Sheikh Complex — significant not only in size but also in historical importance. Following a rejuvenating pause at Azhar Park, our path led us through the ancient streets of al-Darb al-Ahmar. Captivated by its vibrancy, our cameras clicked incessantly, capturing the neighborhood’s pulsating creative energy. We marveled at the diverse array of goods on display, from brass lanterns and vibrant textiles to intricate glassware and opulent silk carpets. Many designs, unique to Cairo and often exclusive to this district, reflected al-Darb’s rich tapestry of creativity, leaving us in awe of its astonishing artistic output.
Concluding, Yet Continuously Unfolding
DAY 7
Saturday, Feb 24, 2024
As the week ended, we held a full day of roundtable discussions at AUC’s Tahrir Campus. Engaging in thoughtful reflection, we contemplated the future of the Global Past Research Initiative with optimism and determination. Our discussions were punctuated by a joyous dinner at Abou el Sid, where laughter and camaraderie filled the air. Later, graduate students gathered at a nearby pub, their spirits both fatigued and invigorated by the week’s events, forging lasting bonds amid shared exhaustion and excitement.