Session “Latin Iberia: A Literary Reappraisal of Latin Works in the Peninsula” organized by Erik Alder for the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo

Works in Latin from the Iberian Peninsula typically occupy a marginal position compared to Romance Vernacular and Latin from other regions. As scholarship continues to challenge the canon, Hispano-medievalists must also reckon with the problem of overlooking the artistic value of Latin works, which far exceeded those in Vernacular and influenced them heavily. A more inclusive approach to the literature of this region, which has recently given greater attention to Arabic, Hebrew, and Catalan-speaking cultures, would benefit from a reassessment of its more abundant Latin works, particularly to those works written when Latin was the dominant language of the region.

Latin played an enormous role in the development of Iberian cultures, both early in the region’s development when it was the dominant language, as well as later when patronized by the elite. This session invites papers that question the hegemonic banality of Latin on the peninsula and recognize how the language was espoused by minority identities as well as how it could still be used as an artistic medium, such as in the cases of Prudentius, Egeria, and Visigothic authors, as well as consideration of issues that occur in translations such as those by Gonzalo de Berceo.
Call for Papers for “Latin Iberia” Session at Kalamazoo 2025