The Center for Austrian Studies at the Sixteenth Century Society Conference
Over the past six years, the Center for Austrian Studies has played a pivotal role in shaping the scholarly discourse at the Sixteenth Century Society Conference (SCSC). Between 2017 and 2024, the Center has sponsored a total of 13 panels, creating a significant platform for advancing research and fostering collaboration.
Belgian Beginnings
The story began in 2016 at the SCSC conference in Bruges. Amid picturesque surroundings, Professor Howard Louthan and Professor Andrew Thomas discussed the idea of the Center sponsoring panels. Their conversation was interrupted by an unexpected wedding entourage — an auspicious start to what would become a highly fruitful collaboration. The following year, the first sponsored panel debuted at the Milwaukee conference, launching a tradition that would enrich the academic landscape of SCSC.
Planning these panels required a forward-looking approach — understanding the pulse of current scholarship while championing underrepresented perspectives. Themes were thoughtfully curated to highlight emerging research trends in Central European. By integrating topics such as multiconfessionalism, women’s studies, and transnational connections, the panels bridged gaps in knowledge and fostered rich interdisciplinary dialogue. Most importantly, these panels brought Central Europe — long marginalized in early modern studies — into the forefront of broader discussions, underscoring its vital role in shaping the cultural, religious, and intellectual currents of the period.
Panels That Made an Impact
From the start, the panels brought fresh perspectives on Central European history. Early sessions explored the intersection of religious prophecy and politics, as well as the role of visual and textual materials in shaping reformations across Austria, Bohemia, Poland, and Transylvania. These discussions laid the groundwork for a more nuanced understanding of the region's religious and cultural transformations. As the conferences progressed, themes expanded to include identity and confessional boundaries. By 2019, the focus turned to the broader regional dynamics of Central Europe. Discussions in St. Louis highlighted the cultural and religious exchanges from the Balkans to the Baltic. These panels brought to light the intricate networks that connected different parts of the region. The San Diego conference in 2021 broadened the dialogue even further by incorporating perspectives on gender and transatlantic connections. Scholars examined how female experiences in the Spanish Habsburg world intersected with those in Central Europe and Finland. Baltimore’s 2023 panels ventured into new territory, such as early modern Orientalism and the socio-religious ideas that shaped communities in Bohemia and Poland. Finally, the 2024 conference in Toronto reflected on the diplomatic missions that highlighted the complex sets of religious, political, and intellectual networks shaping the character of Central Europe.
A Lasting Legacy
The Center’s sustained involvement in SCSC has left an indelible mark. By consistently championing Central European studies, it ensured these perspectives became integral to broader academic conversations. This effort also sparked independent research and publications, with participants’ work evolving into articles and books that have further enriched the field. In addition to intellectual rigor, these panels fostered camaraderie. These gatherings underscored the Center’s dual mission: advancing scholarship while nurturing a vibrant scholarly community.
Toronto’s 2024 conference marked Professor Andrew Thomas’s final year as organiser of multiple panels. Reflecting on the experience, he has likened it to participating in a modern republic of letters, where the exchange of ideas fostered connections that transcended geographical and disciplinary boundaries. By spotlighting underrepresented perspectives, facilitating meaningful connections, and advancing interdisciplinary research, it has fostered a richer and more inclusive academic environment. As the Professor Andrew Thomas steps into new responsibilities as Chair of Salem College’s coordinating committee in addition to his regular duties as a professor, the legacy of these panels will continue to inspire and influence Central European studies for years to come.
About the Sixteenth Century Society from its website: The Sixteenth Century Society is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the study of the early modern era (ca. 1450-1750), and welcomes scholars of all ranks from across the world. Annual membership also includes a subscription to The Sixteenth Century Journal.
