Adam Knobler

Prof. Adam Knobler is a Professor of Religious History at Ruhr University Bochum (Germany), leading the Professorship for the History of Religions since 2013. Previously, he held roles as Associate Professor of History at the College of New Jersey (1998–2013) and Adjunct Instructor at Pennsylvania State University (1991–1992). His research focuses on medieval and early modern religious conflicts, interfaith relations, and the legacy of the Crusades. He has authored influential works such as Mythology and Diplomacy in the Age of Exploration (2016) and Crusading in the Long 19th Century: 1798–1928 (2024), exploring themes like holy war rhetoric and cross-cultural encounters.

Education: Ph.D. in History (University of Cambridge, 1990), BA in Medieval Studies (Wesleyan College, 1985).

Research interests include the Crusades’ impact on modern ideologies, Timurid expansions, and Jewish-Christian-Muslim interactions. His current projects with Prof. Alexandra Cuffel focus on the Ten Lost Tribes’ role in messianic narratives from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Key affiliations include CERES (Centrum für Religionswissenschaftliche Studien), where he coordinates the ERiC Summer Schools and contributes to the Research Department. He received the Käte Hamburger Fellowship (2011) for his project on medieval mythologies of the Ten Lost Tribes.

Recent publications analyze topics such as Tsarist holy war traditions, the symbolism of the penis in imperial narratives, and the portability of medieval crusading ideals in modern contexts. His work bridges historical analysis with interdisciplinary inquiries into religion, power, and cultural representation.