The Byzantine Empire was built on the backs of the rural and urban labour force. From agricultural production and the extraction of raw materials to the physical construction of urban centres and buildings, the strength of the empire’s economy and its imperial administration rested upon complex networks of labourers, artisans and ‘local notables’, across its natural landscapes, in villages, and cities. While huge advances have been made in studying labour processes in recent years, the experiences of such populations within the Byzantine world have received comparatively less attention when compared to other fields of late Roman and western medieval studies. How the Byzantine Empire was experienced and understood by those far removed from its centres of governance and central networks of power, are crucial questions for understanding the lived experience of the mostly silent majority whose lives played out both within, and around, the empire’s fluctuating ‘borders’. Beyond exploring the contribution of rural communities and non-elites to modes of production, this symposium will also explore what can be said of the intricacies of their lives, societies, and what it meant to ‘be Byzantine’, viewed from below.
Symposiarch
Dr Daniel Reynolds
Cost
Full three days:
- Members of SPBS – £95
- Non-members – £110
- Students/ unwaged: – £50
One day:
- Members of SPBS – £55
- Non-members – £65
- Students/ unwaged – £30
Symposium Feast
Sunday 13 April 1930 (Kolkata Lounge Restaurant) – £40 per head
Online:
- Members: £20
- Non-members: £35
- Students/unwaged: £10
Venue
The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
The Symposium will be hosted in the Arts Building on the University of Birmingham’s main campus (map reference R16): https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/university/edgbaston-campus-map.pdf
An interactive map can be accessed here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/contact/directions
Getting to campus
Train
The University of Birmingham has its own train station known as ‘University’. Trains leave every 10-15 mins from Birmingham New Street Station, usually departing from platform 11B.
Further details on train travel: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/travelling-to-campus/travelling-by-train.aspx
Information on National Rail Services: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
It may be possible to get cheaper tickets, especially for longer-distance rail travel within the UK, here: https://www.thetrainline.com/
By bus
Local routes 61, 63, 41, 48, 76, X21, X22, 19, 20, 20A directly serve the University of Birmingham campus, linking the university to the city centre, local train stations and neighbourhoods. The circular 11A and 11C routes also run nearby.
Further details on bus travel: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/travelling-to-campus/travelling-by-bus.aspx
Car Parking
Northeast multi-storey car park (Pritchatts Road, B15 2SA).
You can park here for up to ten hours. Parking charges apply Monday to Sunday, between 8am and 6pm. This includes Bank holidays and university closed days.
Charges start from £3.40 and are capped at £10 (as of October 2024) Monday to Friday. If parking at the weekend or on a Bank holiday, there is a flat day rate of £2.50.
Taxi
TOA Taxis are a Birmingham-based company which is recommended by the university.
TOA Taxis: Birmingham black cab taxi service | Home | TOA Taxis
Accommodation
The university has its own onsite hotel accommodation, now known as the Edgbaston Park Hotel: https://www.edgbastonparkhotel.com/
The city centre has a greater range of accommodation options and is located around 10-15mins away by train.
Further information on city centre options can be found here: https://visitbirmingham.com/where-to-stay/
Medical assistance
First Aid: Dr Daniel Reynolds (symposiarch) is a qualified first aider.
Emergency service numbers: 999 or 112
Medical Practice:
The university has its own dedicated GP practitioner for non-emergency care: https://www.theump.co.uk/
UBHeard is a confidential listening and support service for all registered students (undergraduate and postgraduate) at the University of Birmingham. It offers immediate emotional and mental health support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Call the service on 0800 368 5819 (Freephone UK*) or 00353 1 518 0277 (International), or visit the UBHeard portal (create an account with your UoB email address). You can also text ‘Hi’ to +44 74 1836 0780 for SMS & WhatsApp support (standard rates apply) or contact UBHeard via Live Chat.
Security
If there is an immediate risk to life, safety or security – yours, another person’s, or property – call the emergency services on 999. Then call Security on 0121 414 4444. If you are a member of the University of Birmingham, you can also alert them through the SafeZone app.
If you’re calling to report an alleged crime (especially assault/sexual assault, indecency, fraud, theft, or burglary), you should always contact both the police and Security. Security will be able to support you while you wait for the emergency services to arrive.
To report a non-emergency crime (e.g., theft), call Security on 0121 414 3000 or report an incident through the SafeZone app. You should also report the incident to the police online or by calling 101.
Food and drink
Lunch and refreshments will be provided for all symposium delegates. However, the campus also has a wide range of options you may prefer to explore: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/community/university-campus/retail/food-fellows/opening-times
The Main Library
The University Main Library is open 0800-2000 during university holidays and is open to visitors for consultation. Further information can be found here: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/libraries/index.aspx
Symposium Feast (Sunday 13 April 1930)
The symposium feast will be held at Kolkata Lounge 1488 Pershore Rd, Bournville, Birmingham B30 2NT.
