Program Overview

Introduction to the Crossing Frontiers Program

The Crossing Frontiers program is a travelling research seminar initiative designed for Early Career Researchers interested in the medieval art and culture of the eastern frontier between Christianity and Islam. This program covers a vast geographical area, including Anatolia, the Caucasus, and the western Iranian world, with a focus on cross-cultural exchange and international artistic production.

Program Overview

The program is supported by the Getty Foundation as part of its Connecting Art Histories initiative. It aims to provide emerging scholars with the opportunity to visit and discuss a range of important monuments alongside a group of more senior advisors and mentors. Seminars have already taken place in eastern Turkey, Armenia, and Georgia, with the final seminar scheduled to take place in Jerusalem.

Historical Context

The region of eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus witnessed the convergence of four distinct worlds in the twelfth to fourteenth centuries: the Christian cultures of Anatolia and the Caucasus, the Turkic cultures of Anatolia, the Arabic culture of Syria, and the Persian culture of Iranian Azerbaijan. The invasions of the Khwarazmians and the Mongols in the 1230s and 1240s introduced additional ethnic, religious, and cultural groups to the region. Despite modern frontiers dividing these societies, their medieval cultures were interconnected and interdependent, producing high-quality works of art, including architecture, ceramics, metalwork, manuscripts, and more.

Program Objectives

The Crossing Frontiers project seeks to reunite the study of these monuments, examining cross-cultural interaction across the region. By hosting seminars and research trips, the program facilitates a deeper understanding of the artistic and cultural heritage of the area, encouraging further research into the networks of patrons and builders who traversed Anatolia and the Caucasus.

Research Areas and Sites

The program encompasses a wide range of research areas and sites, including:

• Monasteries
• Mosques
• Madrasas
• Churches
• Caravanserais
• Bridges
• Bathhouses
• Mausolea
• Palaces Specific sites of interest include those in Turkey, Armenia, and Georgia, such as the Buruciye Medrese, the Çifte Minare Medrese, and the church of St. George in Daba, Georgia.

Detailed Site Information

Daba, Georgia

The church of St. George in Daba, built in 1333, showcases a unique blend of Georgian, Seljuk, and Armenian architectural motifs. Its façade decoration, including patterns around windows and portals, reflects the cross-cultural exchange characteristic of the region during the medieval period.

Ulu Camii and Tombs, Sivas

This site in Sivas, Turkey, features an image gallery of the Ulu Camii and tombs, highlighting the architectural and artistic achievements of the period.

Conclusion

The Crossing Frontiers program offers a comprehensive and immersive experience for Early Career Researchers, delving into the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the eastern frontier between Christianity and Islam. By exploring the historical context, program objectives, and specific research areas and sites, participants gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of medieval cultures in Anatolia, the Caucasus, and beyond.