Atlantic port cities, while important throughout history, reached a zenith of relevance from the 19th century onwards. They represented central nodes of innovation, hubs for the exchange of goods, people, ideas and technology. They were also ideal places for merchants and business activities. Over time, important networks developed between the various Atlantic port cities. At the same time, the competition among port cities increased.

The history and functioning of ports has always attracted considerable attention from different disciplines. However, until recently, they tended to focus economic aspects of intercontinental seaport networks and overseas traffic systems. It will be necessary to combine this research with newer perspectives of cultural history.

Thus, this session intends to debate the following topics:
A) What were the driving forces behind the stagnation or the growth of Atlantic port cities?
B) How did port cities cope with the complexities of these changes?
C) How did the changing spatial organization of port cities lead to change in the imaginary of the Atlantic port cities?

The ongoing research conducted by each of this session organizers is mainly centered around the port of Lisbon and the port of Rio de Janeiro. This session seeks to draw comparisons between other Atlantic port cities, too, in order to analyze their transatlantic, transnational and transcultural embeddedness.

The aim of this session is to promote the understanding of how Atlantic port cities developed in the perception of different actors from the era of the industrial revolution to the present. We will ask how some of these port cities reinvented themselves over time, how some of them maintained their status as port hubs and how some of them completely renewed their waterfronts design and activities.

This session encourages multidisciplinary approaches to promote a fruitful debate among scholars. The results are expected to shed light on the outstanding complexity of port cities and to discuss different factors and typologies of change.

A paper proposal for presentation at the conference should be submitted in the form of an abstract only (not to exceed 300 words). Important: Paper proposals and full texts can only be submitted online, via the EAUH2014 website. To submit a paper proposal, registration is required.

Deadline for paper proposals submission: October 15, 2013
Notification of paper acceptance: December 15, 2013

For more information regarding EAUH 2014 visit the website:
http://www.eauh2014.fcsh.unl.pt/index.php?conference=conference&schedConf=eauh20142014