The goal is to broaden the focus of early modern studies by integrating the history of the region into the transnational (or transimperial) and transcultural history of Eurasia. At the core of this initiative is the question of what significance the epochal changes of the premodern period have for our current understanding of Eastern Europe in the modern world.

The idea of establishing this network arose from the challenges connected with the low level of formal institutional support in German and western European universities for research into this time period and for trans-Eurasian perspectives. Such an academic network promotes scholarly communication and exchange of knowledge and ultimately, we hope, will facilitate the development of new research perspectives and projects on the history of Eastern Europe in the premodern period.

We welcome proposals from historians and scholars from related disciplines and area studies who are working on the (entangled) history of East Slavic Europe in the premodern period. Of particular interest are contributions that explore the potential of new directions for research into this topic.

The network would particularly like to encourage young researchers and scholars at risk to apply. Please send us short abstracts (ca. 500 words) that will serve as the basis for a 30-minute presentation. The conference will be held online and in English, but the proposals may be submitted in English, Russian, Ukrainian, or German.