Frontiers before borders: Perceptions of boundaries, territory and space in the past and present

A two day conference organised by the School of Histories and Humanities.

Please register here. 

How have people constructed imaginary frontiers, boundaries or borders demarcating different geographical areas in the absence of formal political or administrative borders? Can cultural, social, and ethnic frontiers emerge on a geographical level within in the same political or administrative territory? Have there been, or are there examples of boundaries being constructed from below rather than by states? Have there been examples of cultural, social, political, ethnic and/or religious groups constructing territorial boundaries between themselves and others?

Join us for this multi-disciplinary conference at the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute and online to discuss the role of frontiers and boundaries from the pre-modern world to the present in Europe, Asia and Africa.

The conference is organised by Patrick Duffy, a fourth-year PhD student at the Department of History at Trinity College, Dublin who is funded by a Research Ireland Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship.
Bluesky: @frontiers2025.bsky.social

Please let us know if you have any access requirements, such as ISL/English interpreting, so that we can facilitate you in attending this event. Contact: pduffy1@tcd.ie