Established by Luís Krus in 2004, the José Mattoso Seminars were from the outset intended as a forum for scientific debate and productive and innovative dialogue, valuing the historiographical development of the issues and concepts proposed by this historian. Krus deployed this approach in the belief this represented the most stimulating and fruitful way of paying tribute to the undeniable contributions of José Mattoso and his studies.

After a pause for several years, the Institute of Medieval Studies decided to reactivate this discussion forum, which is now included in its biennial activity plan. In 2014, the Mattoso Seminar was dedicated to the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue to producing another vision of the Middle Ages. In 2016, the Seminar discussed the impact, operationality and timeliness of the binomial “Opposition/Composition” as proposed by José Mattoso in his seminal work on national identity, An Essay on the Origins of Portugal.  This year, we wish to return to interdisciplinarity and dialogue between scientific areas that normally do not commonly engage with each other. Around the issues of Illness, Food and Migration, we will hear some of the most renowned and innovative international and Portuguese specialists inform us about their cutting-edge research on these topics.