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On February 18, 2026, the Global Network Seminar was held, and the seminar welcomed Professor Marta Cariello from the Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" as the guest speaker. Professor Cariello delivered a lecture on the history of the Mediterranean, the movement of people across the region, and the role of maps in shaping our understanding of place, history, and culture.

In her lecture, Professor Cariello first introduced the Mediterranean not only as a geographical region but also as a historical and cultural space shaped through centuries of human interaction. Using a series of maps, she traced patterns of migration and the origins of diverse communities across the Mediterranean, while examining the history of trade, the expansion of colonialism, and the changing power relations that have shaped the region over time. She emphasized the importance of studying the Mediterranean as a dynamic and interconnected area of research.

The lecture also explored the role of maps themselves. Professor Cariello explained that maps are not simply neutral representations of places and spaces; rather, they visualize relationships among geography, history, migration, and human interaction while simultaneously reflecting particular perspectives and ways of understanding the world. She emphasized the importance of critically examining not only what is represented on a map but also the viewpoints and assumptions through which the world is depicted.

The seminar provided participants with a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the historical development of migration, trade, colonialism, and power relations in the Mediterranean region. It also encouraged participants to reconsider how maps shape our perspectives on regions, history, and culture, highlighting the importance of critically engaging with the ways in which the world is represented.