diff --git a/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl b/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
index 4c662bad37..d16b3b96b4 100644
--- a/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/ComplexMat.jl
@@ -706,13 +706,7 @@ end
 
 for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, ComplexFieldElem, String]
   @eval begin
-    function (x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{$T})
-      _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
-      z = ComplexMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(Balls))
-      return z
-    end
-
-    function (x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{$T})
+    function (x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{$T})
       _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
       z = ComplexMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(Balls))
       return z
@@ -720,23 +714,13 @@ for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, ComplexFiel
   end
 end
 
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{T}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(ZZRingElem, y))
-
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{T}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(ZZRingElem, y))
+(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(ZZRingElem, y))
 
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(QQFieldElem, y))
-
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(QQFieldElem, y))
+(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(QQFieldElem, y))
 
 for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, String]
   @eval begin
-    function (x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Tuple{$T, $T}})
-      _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
-      z = ComplexMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(Balls))
-      return z
-    end
-
-    function (x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Tuple{$T, $T}})
+    function (x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Tuple{$T, $T}})
       _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
       z = ComplexMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(Balls))
       return z
@@ -744,16 +728,10 @@ for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, String]
   end
 end
 
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Tuple{T, T}}) where {T <: Integer} =
+(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Tuple{T, T}}) where {T <: Integer} =
 x(map(z -> (ZZRingElem(z[1]), ZZRingElem(z[2])), y))
 
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Tuple{T, T}}) where {T <: Integer} =
-x(map(z -> (ZZRingElem(z[1]), ZZRingElem(z[2])), y))
-
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Tuple{Rational{T}, Rational{T}}}) where {T <: Integer} =
-x(map(z -> (QQFieldElem(z[1]), QQFieldElem(z[2])), y))
-
-(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Tuple{Rational{T}, Rational{T}}}) where {T <: Integer} =
+(x::ComplexMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Tuple{Rational{T}, Rational{T}}}) where {T <: Integer} =
 x(map(z -> (QQFieldElem(z[1]), QQFieldElem(z[2])), y))
 
 for T in [Integer, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, ComplexFieldElem, String]
diff --git a/src/arb/RealMat.jl b/src/arb/RealMat.jl
index ad469b8a95..e9f39d33b3 100644
--- a/src/arb/RealMat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/RealMat.jl
@@ -643,13 +643,7 @@ function (x::RealMatrixSpace)(y::ZZMatrix)
   return z
 end
 
-function (x::RealMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{T}) where {T <: Union{Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, AbstractString}}
-  _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
-  z = RealMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(Balls))
-  return z
-end
-
-function (x::RealMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{T}) where {T <: Union{Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, AbstractString}}
+function (x::RealMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: Union{Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, RealFieldElem, AbstractString}}
   _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
   z = RealMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(Balls))
   return z
diff --git a/src/arb/acb_mat.jl b/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
index 94ae3b8ef5..d3447ae9d0 100644
--- a/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/acb_mat.jl
@@ -709,14 +709,7 @@ end
 
 for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, AcbFieldElem, String]
   @eval begin
-    function (x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{$T})
-      _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
-      z = AcbMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(x))
-      z.base_ring = x.base_ring
-      return z
-    end
-
-    function (x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{$T})
+    function (x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{$T})
       _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
       z = AcbMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(x))
       z.base_ring = x.base_ring
@@ -725,24 +718,13 @@ for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, AcbFieldElem
   end
 end
 
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{T}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(ZZRingElem, y))
-
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{T}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(ZZRingElem, y))
+(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(ZZRingElem, y))
 
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(QQFieldElem, y))
-
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(QQFieldElem, y))
+(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer} = x(map(QQFieldElem, y))
 
 for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, String]
   @eval begin
-    function (x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Tuple{$T, $T}})
-      _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
-      z = AcbMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(x))
-      z.base_ring = x.base_ring
-      return z
-    end
-
-    function (x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Tuple{$T, $T}})
+    function (x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Tuple{$T, $T}})
       _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
       z = AcbMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(x))
       z.base_ring = x.base_ring
@@ -751,16 +733,10 @@ for T in [Float64, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, String]
   end
 end
 
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Tuple{T, T}}) where {T <: Integer} =
+(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Tuple{T, T}}) where {T <: Integer} =
 x(map(z -> (ZZRingElem(z[1]), ZZRingElem(z[2])), y))
 
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Tuple{T, T}}) where {T <: Integer} =
-x(map(z -> (ZZRingElem(z[1]), ZZRingElem(z[2])), y))
-
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{Tuple{Rational{T}, Rational{T}}}) where {T <: Integer} =
-x(map(z -> (QQFieldElem(z[1]), QQFieldElem(z[2])), y))
-
-(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{Tuple{Rational{T}, Rational{T}}}) where {T <: Integer} =
+(x::AcbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{Tuple{Rational{T}, Rational{T}}}) where {T <: Integer} =
 x(map(z -> (QQFieldElem(z[1]), QQFieldElem(z[2])), y))
 
 for T in [Integer, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, AcbFieldElem, String]
diff --git a/src/arb/arb_mat.jl b/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
index f6b4cb1d45..93ca811f2c 100644
--- a/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
+++ b/src/arb/arb_mat.jl
@@ -667,14 +667,7 @@ function (x::ArbMatrixSpace)(y::ZZMatrix)
   return z
 end
 
-function (x::ArbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractMatrix{T}) where {T <: Union{Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, AbstractString}}
-  _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
-  z = ArbMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(x))
-  z.base_ring = x.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (x::ArbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVector{T}) where {T <: Union{Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, AbstractString}}
+function (x::ArbMatrixSpace)(y::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: Union{Int, UInt, ZZRingElem, QQFieldElem, Float64, BigFloat, ArbFieldElem, AbstractString}}
   _check_dim(nrows(x), ncols(x), y)
   z = ArbMatrix(nrows(x), ncols(x), y, precision(x))
   z.base_ring = x.base_ring
diff --git a/src/flint/fmpq_mat.jl b/src/flint/fmpq_mat.jl
index dc1c543f87..4437bd26b1 100644
--- a/src/flint/fmpq_mat.jl
+++ b/src/flint/fmpq_mat.jl
@@ -727,50 +727,19 @@ function (a::QQMatrixSpace)()
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{QQFieldElem})
+function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{QQFieldElem})
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{ZZRingElem})
+function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: IntegerUnion}
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   return z
 end
 
-
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{T}) where {T <: Integer}
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer}
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), map(QQFieldElem, arr))
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{QQFieldElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{T}) where {T <: Integer}
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{Rational{T}}) where {T <: Integer}
+function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{<:Rational})
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), map(QQFieldElem, arr))
   return z
@@ -781,17 +750,7 @@ function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(d::QQFieldElem)
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(d::ZZRingElem)
-  z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), QQFieldElem(d))
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(d::Integer)
-  z = QQMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), QQFieldElem(d))
-  return z
-end
-
-(a::QQMatrixSpace)(d::Rational) = a(QQFieldElem(d))
+(a::QQMatrixSpace)(d::RationalUnion) = a(QQFieldElem(d))
 
 function (a::QQMatrixSpace)(M::ZZMatrix)
   (ncols(a) == ncols(M) && nrows(a) == nrows(M)) || error("wrong matrix dimension")
diff --git a/src/flint/fmpz_mat.jl b/src/flint/fmpz_mat.jl
index d33663debf..07a811319c 100644
--- a/src/flint/fmpz_mat.jl
+++ b/src/flint/fmpz_mat.jl
@@ -1908,13 +1908,7 @@ function (a::ZZMatrixSpace)()
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::ZZMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{T}) where {T <: IntegerUnion}
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = ZZMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::ZZMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{T}) where {T <: IntegerUnion}
+function (a::ZZMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: IntegerUnion}
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = ZZMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   return z
diff --git a/src/flint/fmpz_mod_mat.jl b/src/flint/fmpz_mod_mat.jl
index 54cd7abc34..f39ac6960d 100644
--- a/src/flint/fmpz_mod_mat.jl
+++ b/src/flint/fmpz_mod_mat.jl
@@ -638,57 +638,14 @@ function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)()
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{BigInt})
+function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{<:IntegerUnion})
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
   z.base_ring = a.base_ring
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{BigInt})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{ZZModRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
-  z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{ZZModRingElem})
+function (a::ZZModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{ZZModRingElem})
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
   z = ZZModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
diff --git a/src/flint/gfp_fmpz_mat.jl b/src/flint/gfp_fmpz_mat.jl
index ddd660f370..5a3492503f 100644
--- a/src/flint/gfp_fmpz_mat.jl
+++ b/src/flint/gfp_fmpz_mat.jl
@@ -224,57 +224,14 @@ function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(b::FpFieldElem)
   return M
 end
 
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{BigInt})
+function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: IntegerUnion}
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
   z.base_ring = a.base_ring
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{BigInt})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{FpFieldElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
-  z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{FpFieldElem})
+function (a::FpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{FpFieldElem})
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
   z = FpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), base_ring(a).ninv, arr)
diff --git a/src/flint/gfp_mat.jl b/src/flint/gfp_mat.jl
index 1ce0447e59..41c92d5a31 100644
--- a/src/flint/gfp_mat.jl
+++ b/src/flint/gfp_mat.jl
@@ -285,57 +285,14 @@ function (a::fpMatrixSpace)()
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{BigInt})
+function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: IntegerUnion}
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
   z.base_ring = a.base_ring
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{BigInt})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{fpFieldElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
-  z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{fpFieldElem})
+function (a::fpMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{fpFieldElem})
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
   z = fpMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
diff --git a/src/flint/nmod_mat.jl b/src/flint/nmod_mat.jl
index 09f81b9917..f506fdc332 100644
--- a/src/flint/nmod_mat.jl
+++ b/src/flint/nmod_mat.jl
@@ -706,57 +706,14 @@ function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)()
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{BigInt})
+function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{T}) where {T <: IntegerUnion}
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
   z.base_ring = a.base_ring
   return z
 end
 
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{BigInt})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{ZZRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{Int})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractMatrix{zzModRingElem})
-  _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
-  (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
-  z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)
-  z.base_ring = a.base_ring
-  return z
-end
-
-function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVector{zzModRingElem})
+function (a::zzModMatrixSpace)(arr::AbstractVecOrMat{zzModRingElem})
   _check_dim(nrows(a), ncols(a), arr)
   (length(arr) > 0 && (base_ring(a) != parent(arr[1]))) && error("Elements must have same base ring")
   z = zzModMatrix(nrows(a), ncols(a), modulus(base_ring(a)), arr)