Golden years for the Dark Ages: the transformation of early medieval studies since 1980 A conference in honor of Walter Pohl:
The last decades have been an extraordinary era for the study of the early Middle Ages and Walter Pohl has played an essential role in it - for example, with his work in the Transformation of the Roman World, the establishment of the Vienna Institute for Medieval Studies, his participation in the European Research Council, and the development and implementation of major projects which have fostered international and interdisciplinary networks of early medieval research in Vienna. In doing so Walter belonged, and belongs, to a larger network of scholars who have all shaped the transformation of early medieval studies since the 1980, in their own ways but above all in cooperation with each other. At the conference we would like to bring together members of this group, and scholars of younger generations to reflect on the directions that have been established over the last decades as well as perspectives for the future of early medieval studies. What has been accomplished, and what not? Which directions have proved useful, which less so, and which have not been pursued enough? What are new challenges, chances and opportunities for the study of late Antique and early medieval history in the 21st century. The questions will be discussed in six sections.
