The 3rd All-Russia Young Scholars Conference «The Ancient and Medieval Middle East» will take place on February 19–20, 2026 in Saint Petersburg (Novo-Mikhailovsky Palace, Dvortsovaya emb., 18, Saint Petersburg). The conference is organized by the IOM RAS and the Institute of Asian and African Studies, HSE University (Saint Petersburg).

Themes of the first two conferences called “Army and military traditions of the Near East” will be expanded and in 2026 will include history, politics, society, culture, art, warfare of the Middle East from antiquity to the 19th century.

The conference is meant for senior students and its goal is to give young scholars of the Middle East an opportunity to present their research and to participate in discussions with experienced scholars and young researchers.

Themes of the conference:
- Arabian peninsula
- Mashriq (Syria, Egypt, Iraq)
- Maghrib, al-Andalus
- Iran, Afghanistan
- Caucasus, Asia Minor
- Central Asia
- Ancient East (before 3rd c. BCE)

In addition to presentations, the conference program will include lectures by leading scholars, discussions about wider themes and practical topics, and cultural events.

We invite 3rd, 4th and 5th-year students and master-level graduate students to participate. It is necessary to fill the following registration form:

https://forms.yandex.ru/u/68f60bacf47e73001e7ea42b/.

Please also submit separate files of your presentation abstract (main text without bibliography – 1000 characters maximum) and academic supervisor’s approval (1000 characters maximum). In your presentation abstract please explain new findings, research methodology, main primary and secondary sources used.

Application deadline: January 16, 2026

Presentation length: 15 minutes (+ 5 minutes for discussion).

Presentation format: participants in Saint Petersburg present in person. Online participation is available for others.

Transportation and accommodation expenses are not covered by organizers of the conference.

Publication of conference materials (edited volume indexed at the RSCI and DOI) is planned.

If you have any questions about participation in the conference, please contact the Organizing Committee: ammeconference@yandex.ru.

Organizing Committee:
- Serguei A. Frantsouzoff, Doctor of Sciences in History, IOM RAS Deputy Director for Academic Affairs
- Milana Yu. Ilyushina, Doctor of Sciences in History, Head of the Department of Near Eastern and African, Institute of Asian and African Studies of the Higher School of Economics (Saint Petersburg)
- Malozemova E.I., Candidate of Sciences in History, researcher at the “Arsenal” department, curator of the Oriental horse harness collection at the State Hermitage Museum
- Zaytseva D.V., conference secretary, junior researcher, IOM RAS
- Russu K.V., first-year postgraduate student at the IOM RAS, tutor at the Department of Near Eastern and African, Institute of Asian and African Studies of the Higher School of Economics (Saint Petersburg)
- Ozhegov K.V., third-year student, Institute of Asian and African Studies of the Higher School of Economics (Saint Petersburg).

Social media
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