The fourth session of the seminar series titled “Entangled Histories: Borders and Cultural Encounters from the Medieval to the Contemporary Era”, jointly organized by Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication and Insubria University, was held online. The guest speaker of the seminar was historian Andrii Kepsha from Hradec Králové University in the Czech Republic. In his presentation, Kepsha examined the concept of borders in Medieval Eastern Europe, focusing in particular on the relationships between the Rus principalities and steppe nomadic communities between the 11th and 12th centuries.
The online event, which was open to the public, brought together participants from different professional backgrounds with expertise in related fields.
Borders as complex spaces shaped by multiple factors
Andrii Kepsha emphasized that borders should not be understood merely as geographical or political lines, but as complex spaces shaped by sensory, cultural, and mental experiences. He highlighted that themes such as space, nature, and supernatural elements played a central role in how border regions were perceived during the medieval period.
Strengthening the “entangled histories” perspective
Kepsha also underlined that interactions between Christian sedentary societies and pagan nomadic groups in the medieval world involved not only conflict, but also cooperation, cultural exchange, and forms of mutual interaction.
This approach reinforced the “entangled histories” perspective, which conceptualizes borders not as fixed divisions, but as dynamic zones of contact and interaction.
Strong interest in the seminar series
The seminar series, organized by Dr. Maria Pia Ester Cristaldi from Üsküdar University Department of New Media and Communication and Elisa Ramazzina from Insubria University, attracted considerable interest.
The seminars are supported by Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication and the Media and Cultural Studies Master’s Program, as well as by ILIMER Human Oriented Communication Application and Research Center and SDAIEP Shandong Association for the International Exchange of Personnel.