The Islamicate Studies Symposium (ISS) is occasioned by the fortieth anniversary of the publication of Marshall Hodgson’s Venture of Islam, which introduced novel and scrupulous epistemological, intellectual, methodological and historiographic approaches to the study of Islam and Muslim civilisations. Pivotal amongst a very small group of groundbreaking scholars, his work helped to transform the field of study.

The Symposium to be held at the University of Chicago on 18th October 2014 will bring together leading experts from different specialisations and disciplines of Islamic studies from around the world to explore whether the paradigms of the Venture - a seminal text used world-wide - are still academically and pedagogically relevant. They will also map the venture of Islam in the twenty first century by assessing the current state of the field and charting the directions and needs in the study of Islam and Islamicate societies over the next five or six decades.

ISS is part of a three-day event and is preceded by the Ismaili Studies Conference. It culminates with an evening program which is part of the Humanities Day programming and consists of: a presentation of Mosque Alert by Silk Road Rising followed by the Keynote Address and ends with a musical performance organised by Wanees Zarour director of the Middle East Music Ensemble.