EIHS Lecture: Ordering the Sky: The Atmospherics of Sovereignty in the Hellenistic World
Paul Kosmin (Harvard University)
This lecture will explore the relationship between unruly weather and ancient kingship, proposing: first, a widely acknowledged mode of meteorological legitimacy; second, that in certain configurations the atmospheric sky became an available object for management and manipulation; and third, that, in consequence, it became a landscape for thinking through the limits of sovereignty.
Paul J. Kosmin (Philip J. King Professor of Ancient History at Harvard University) works on the political, cultural, and intellectual history of the ancient Greek world, broadly understood. The core of his work to date has focused on the Hellenistic east – the political landscape that extended from the Greek mainland to India and Central Asia in the last three centuries BCE – and on three broad historical themes: the relationship between empires and systems of knowledge; the interaction between the Greek world and its Near Eastern neighbors; and ancient societies’ engagement with the “planetary”.
This event presented by the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies. It is made possible in part by a generous contribution from Kenneth and Frances Aftel Eisenberg.
Paul J. Kosmin (Philip J. King Professor of Ancient History at Harvard University) works on the political, cultural, and intellectual history of the ancient Greek world, broadly understood. The core of his work to date has focused on the Hellenistic east – the political landscape that extended from the Greek mainland to India and Central Asia in the last three centuries BCE – and on three broad historical themes: the relationship between empires and systems of knowledge; the interaction between the Greek world and its Near Eastern neighbors; and ancient societies’ engagement with the “planetary”.
This event presented by the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies. It is made possible in part by a generous contribution from Kenneth and Frances Aftel Eisenberg.
| Building: | Tisch Hall |
|---|---|
| Event Type: | Lecture / Discussion |
| Tags: | Classical Studies, Graduate, Graduate Students, History, Humanities |
| Source: | Happening @ Michigan from Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies, Department of History |
The Thursday Series is the core of the institute's scholarly program, hosting distinguished guests who examine methodological, analytical, and theoretical issues in the field of history.
The Friday Series consists mostly of panel-style workshops highlighting U-M graduate students. On occasion, events may include lectures, seminars, or other programs presented by visiting scholars.
The insitute also hosts other historical programming, including lectures, film screenings, author appearances, and similar events aimed at a broader public audience.
