In 1808 the German geographer Augost Zionne issues his book „Gea. Versuch einer wissenschaftlichen Erdbeschreibung“, in which he offers one of the European peninsulas to be called "Balkan". This notion has grown from purely scientific term into a symbol of the crossroads between the European and non-European, with a number of conflicts - military and ideological, and great empires and religions.

These problems will be tackled by the Round Table, initiated by the Department of History of Bysantine and the Balkans, and the Faculty of History at Sofia University.

Thematic accents of the Round Table

1. History of the peninsula naming (notion, origins, authorship, context, etc.)

2. The name „Balkans“ – use and misuse during ХІХ – ХХ c.

3. „The Balkan Peninsula“ or „South-East Europe“? The past and the future.

4. „The Balkans“ and „The South-East Europe“ in the contemporary media.

Schedule:
11 – 12 December 2008, Sofia University Rectorat. The participants may offer 15-minute talks within the thematic range or to join in with commentary. The applications must be sent at balkanroundtable@clio.uni-sofia.bg by 1st October, 2008.