June 30 - July 1, 2025

Ancient Practical Expertise and Knowledge Practices:

Pragmatic texts, handbooks and compendia – cultural dynamics, developments and epistemic functions of practical knowledge.

RFE-network “Between Encyclopaedia and Epitome – Talmudic strategies of knowledge-making in the context of ancient medicine and sciences” (Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, University College London, Freie Universität Berlin)

Organizers:

Lennart Lehmhaus (Tübingen), Markham J. Geller (London), Cale Johnson (Berlin)

Venue:

Freie Universität Berlin

Fabeckstr. 23-25, room 2.2051

14195 Berlin

Since places may be limited, we ask anyone interested in attending to RSVP before 26 June by writing to wissensgeschichte@geschkult.fu-berlin.de and providing your full name, country of residence, and affiliation (if any), and indicate whether you want to attend in person or remotely.

This conference, explores practical expertise and pragmatic texts that convey medical and other (scientific) knowledge with a specific focus on its applicability and socio-cultural utility in Jewish, Christian, Muslim/Islamicate and other ancient or premodern traditions (Graeco-Roman, ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, Arabic, Irano-Persian, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Indian, Carolingian-medieval Latin etc.).

The ancient, late antique and medieval periods across the Mediterranean, the Middle East and beyond witnessed an agglomeration of knowledge in various fields. Alongside some broader “encyclopaedic” impulses – and at times opposed to them – one may notice a surge of (technical) handbooks (e.g. in agriculture, astronomy, medicine, pharmacology, astrology/astronomy, alchemy, animal husbandry, architecture, geography, mechanics, warfare, dream interpretation etc.) and compilations which aimed at both practitioners and interested lay people. Those included among others euporista; recipe collections (medicine, cooking, magic/incantations etc.), texts about astrology, calendars, divination and other matters.

The primarily non-theoretical compilations constitute important source that still awaits comparison with regards to structure and content. Presentations will address the discursive structures, epistemic creativity of specific texts, their socio-cultural embeddedness and their value for comparative study. Another focus area will be various transfers of knowledge in and between ancient cultures o branches of expertise. On another level, contributions will focus on the materiality and social dimensions of these pragmatic texts as well as on the practitioners and the usability of specific texts and items.

The program will be available soon.