Medieval Europe

Stanford’s graduate program in Medieval History offers comprehensive training in
the methods and tools of historical analysis, providing a firm foundation for advanced careers in teaching and research.  Our primary focus is western Europe and the Mediterranean, with thematic strengths in intellectual, religious, legal, and economic history and the history of gender and sexuality. We are delighted to work with students who wish to explore cross-cultural and global aspects of the Middle Ages, working with core faculty as well as colleagues in allied fields. 

Beyond the History Department, graduate students find a vibrant and exciting focal point for medieval and early modern studies in Stanford’s Center for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (CMEMS), which brings together faculty and graduate students from a wide range of disciplines, including Art & Art History, Classics, Comparative Literature, Economics, English, German Studies, French & Italian, Music, Religious Studies, and beyond. CMEMS hosts weekly lunchtime seminars at which visiting faculty and advanced graduate students present their work, as well as public lectures, and symposia. Stanford University Libraries house a diverse and expanding collection of medieval manuscripts and charters.  Students interested in curatorial work are encouraged to work with curators, artifacts, and exhibitions in Special Collections and the Cantor Arts Center.  We also encourage students to explore the transformative potential of the Digital Humanities through the Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA).