Noted medieval historian Patrick J. Geary, emeritus professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, will present “The Challenges and Dangers of integrating Genomic Data into History” on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
The online lecture and discussion will begin at 4 p.m. and is sponsored by Vanderbilt’s Program in Classical and Mediterranean Studies.
Geary’s work extends over a vast range of topics in medieval history, both chronologically and conceptually—from religiosity and social memory to language, ethnicity, social structure and political organization. Many of his essays and books remain standard literature in the field and have been translated into multiple languages. He has directed the St. Gall Plan Project, an internet-based initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that provides tools for the study of Carolingian monasticism.
Currently, Geary is leading a major project that studies the migration of European societies north and south of the Alps through the analysis of ancient DNA in Longobard-era cemeteries in Hungary and in Italy. He is co-principal investigator, with Walter Pohl (Austrian Academy), Johannes Krause (Max-Planck-Institute for the Science of Human History) and Tivadar Vida (Eötvös Loránd University) of HistoGenes, a European Research Council Synergy Grant project integrating genetic, archaeological and historical perspectives on Eastern Central Europe to understand the impact of migrations and mobility on the population of the Carpathian Basin from 400–900 C.E.
To participate in the Zoom event, contact kristin.conley@vanderbilt.edu for the link.