"Entangled Seascapes" Conference: Re-evaluating the Ocean's Role in Global History

The Academia Belgica in Rome recently hosted "Entangled Seascapes" a specialised symposium that aimed to reframe understanding of maritime history. Moving away from traditional views of the sea as a static stage, the conference positioned oceanic worlds as active, "more-than-human" participants in historical development.

The event was a collaborative effort convened by Dr. Matthew Cobb of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Prof. Daniela De Simone of Ghent University. By bringing together approximately 20 international researchers and creative professionals, the gathering facilitated a deep dive into how oceans have actively shaped human trajectories, and been shaped in return, rather than serving as a simple backdrop for human events.

Highlights and Perspectives

A key focus of the discussion was the agency of the natural world. Instead of viewing the water as a passive void to be crossed, participants explored the complex interactions between human and non-human actors across pre-modern and early modern eras.

A notable presentation by Prof. Luci Attala (BRIDGES, UWTSD), titled "Listening to the Bubbles" provided a concrete example of these concepts, focussing on the Kogi communities in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, detailing their perception of water as a communicative force and a primary source of knowledge.

This gathering marks a significant shift in historical study, prioritising an "entangled" view of the world where the environment is recognised as a vital, living participant in the human story.

Read the fascinating report on the conference written by the UWTSD newsroom here.