Cultural History of the Mediterranean

This group focuses on the study of cultural production and transmission processes within the Mediterranean during the medieval and early modern periods. Its members work with written sources in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, and Romance languages, from a multi-linguistic and transcultural perspective, based on the same methodological assumptions. Their research interests are structured around the following axes: 1. Religious and intellectual history of Mediterranean societies. 2. Religious minorities: a) trans-cultural and trans-religious phenomena; b) cultural production, including exegesis and polemics; c) multilingualism and translation; transmission and reception of texts. 3. Written documentation and social processes of writing: a) mechanisms of production and reproduction of writing; b) sociology of written texts; c) levels of literacy and interpretation of writing; d) construction and codification of administrative practices and the exercise of power.