The 2025 Europaeum History Seminar took place in the Maison Française d’Oxford and at the University of Oxford on 27 and 28 November. The event theme was “the Future of the European Past” and students were invited to reflect critically on how European history is researched, taught, and conceptualised in contemporary academia. The event interrogated the traditional focus on national narratives and Eurocentric perspectives, considering the impact of the rise of global history and “provincialisation” in how we approach Europe’s past.
Professor Natalia Nowakowska (Oxford) opened proceedings with a lecture on the Jagiellonians “Past and Future of a European Dynasty”. Nowakowska described the different frames—local, national, transnational, and global—through which the Jagiellonians’ contribution to the European past, and to the contemporary politics of several European countries, has been made. Later in the day, the students heard from Dr Philip Mansel (Society for Court Studies), who explained the role British elites have played in the heart of Europe since the 16th century. Nine students also then presented their own research on topics as diverse as de-Nazification, the cult of Leonardo da Vinci in contemporary Italy, and teaching European History in diverse classrooms. They were joined by Professor David Parrott (Oxford), Professor Céline Dauverd (Colorado/Oxford), and Dr Tracey Sowerby (Europaeum/Oxford) who all gave papers explaining developments in European historiography as it touched upon their own research fields.
The Colloquium’s second day saw the students undertake site visits to the Bodleian Library and the Ashmolean museum, where they took part in interactive workshops with curators of maps and objects. The students also visited Wolfson College to experience a traditional college dinner.
The Europaeum thanks all the speakers and especially Dr Martin Davis (Bodleian Library) and Dr Jim Harris (Ashmolean Museum) who gave their time so generously. It also extends special thanks to the Maison Française and to its Director Stephane Van Damme for hosting the main part of the event.
14 students from 7 universities were accepted to this event.
