Meeting in the Middle Ages

This month we continue our conversation with Dr. Ryan Szpiech, associate professor of Spanish and director of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the University of Michigan. We talk about parallel histories, the world of medieval Spain, and the creation of a documentary on the beginning of the Spanish language. The Birth of Spanish in 3D: https://birth-of-spanish.rll.lsa.umi...

This month we sit down with Dr. Ryan Szpiech, associate professor of Spanish and director of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the University of Michigan. We talk about the hidden power of language, his surprising path into the medieval world through neuroscience, and questing alone in rural Spain. Dr. Szpiech's personal website: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/ryanszpiech/ Dr...

This month we sit down with Dr. Andrea Robiglio, professor of History of Philosophy at KU Leuven, about the wide world of pre-modern philosophy and the "vain struggle to define something." You can find out more about Dr. Robiglio and his recent lecture at the Medieval Institute using the following links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y74Ko5Ge-kg&ab_channel=MedievalInstitute https://www.kuleu...

This month we sit down with Dr. Thomas Burman, director of Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame. We chat with him about how modern research on Mediterranean cultures is reshaping our understanding of the medieval world, exactly how far the Mediterranean world reaches, and what goes into creating textbooks for the next generation of students. Link to Dr. Burman's new textbook, The Sea...

This month we sit down with Spencer Hunt, PhD candidate at the University of Notre Dame's Medieval Institute. We speak with him about medieval Christian and Muslim conversion, the trials and tribulations of writing a dissertation, and the ransom-paying monks of medieval Spain.

This month we sit down with Dr. Megan J. Hall, assistant director of Notre Dame's Medieval Institute. We speak with her about women's literacy and learning in medieval England, the trials and tribulations of writing an academic article, and why impromptu bell-ringing can reveal the true value of scholarship. Dr. Hall's contact information can be found through the following links:  https://medieval...

This month we sit down with Dr. Rachel Koopmans, Associate Professor of History at York University, Toronto. We talk with her about conceptions of the medieval, studying stained glass in books and in person, and gratitude for antiquarians.  Link to Dr. Koopmans's alumni interview with the Medieval Institute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQBvYl14k2w&ab_channel=MedievalInstitute

This month we sit down with Eleonora Celora, a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame. We talk with her about liturgical manuscripts as works of art, moving to France without knowing French, and creating a tool to help others understand medieval liturgical texts. For more on Eleonora: https://medieval.nd.edu/people/graduate-students/eleonora-celora/ For more on her book, Décrire le Manus...

This month we sit down with Dr. Andrew Irving, assistant professor of religion and heritage at the University of Groningen. We talk with him about his journey to Medieval Studies, his work on the 11th century Uta Codex, why one should always weigh their books, and why liturgy is like a Wagnerian opera. Link to Dr. Irving's lecture on the Uta Codex at the Medieval Institute of Notre Dame: https://w...