HARVARD UNIVERSITY
International Seminar on the History of the Atlantic World, 1500-1825

Bernard Bailyn, Director

Workshop
Intellectual History: New Findings, New Approaches, in the Study of
Religion, Science, and Cultural Identity

April 10, 2010

This Workshop will concentrate on current innovations in the study of the
intellectual history of the Atlantic world, the flow of ideas between
Europe and the Americas, from José de Acosta to Jonathan Edwards – new
findings on Biblicism, alchemy, science, architecture, critiques of
idolatry, and approaches to the Enlightenment. The intention is not to
present descriptive summaries of these subjects but for leading
authorities to identify, from work in progress, innovative points of
inquiry and to indicate profitable lines for future study.

There will be three sessions, running from 9:00 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.
Participants are invited to join in the discussions.  Lunch will be
provided and a reception will follow the afternoon session.

Attendance at the Workshop and participation in the discussion are open to
the academic community. Historians at the beginning of their careers are
especially encouraged to attend.  Travel and accommodation expenses will be
the responsibility of attendees, though the Workshop can provide local
lodging information. Registration for the Workshop by April 1 is requested.

To register, and for additional information, please see our Web site or
contact the Atlantic History Seminar, Emerson Hall 4th Floor, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA 02138; Phone: 617-496-3066; Fax: 617-496-8869;
e-mail: elebaron@fas.harvard.edu; Web: www.fas.harvard.edu/ ~atlantic.

The speakers will be: Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra (University of Texas), on architecture, the bible, and a Jesuit temple in Quito; Sarah Irving (Florida State University), on religion and science in the British Atlantic public; Sabine MacCormack (Notre Dame), on José de Acosta, ancient authorities, and cultural relativism; William R. Newman (Indiana University), on religion and the concept of research in 17th century alchemy; Reiner Smolinski (Georgia State University), on Cotton Mather and the early Enlightenment; and Stephen J. Stein (Indiana University), on Jonathan Edwards and trans-Atlantic biblicism.