Session 1

What can a close look at the artistic treasures from the Congo reveal about the history of globalization since the era of the great discoveries? Exploring five hundred years of central Africa’s history through art, this talk outlines the rich political, religious, and artistic trajectory of this exceptionally well-documented region and the perspective it offers on the making of the early modern and modern world. 

Pakistan is home to a large number of languages from several different language families. The national languages are Urdu and English, both of which function as lingua francas for different segments of the population. This talk will briefly discuss some of the major local languages, the changing role and nature of Urdu and its relation to the local languages, and recent developments on the part of local language communities and the government.