As the founding editor of Studies in Late Antiquity, I want to expand on SLA's stated goal to publish “comparative and methodologically innovative papers.” Comparative and multi- or interdisciplinary work is difficult by nature. Disciplinary training both enables us and constructs formidable barriers to interdisciplinary work: the mastery of languages and historical narratives needed to do comparative work setting the Mediterranean in dialogue with the rest of Europe, Asia and Africa exceeds the capacity of most scholars. Thus collaboration is essential. But how even to find conversation partners for such joint ventures, much more to discern common ground? We hope that this journal will be a catalyst for this process in several ways.
First, SLA will expose you to a wide range of methodologies and theoretical concepts all in one place:
Given the multi-disciplinary readership of the journal, we will ensure that the articles we publish are accessible...
University of California Press