Alan Mikhail

Alan Mikhail is the Chace Family Professor of History at Yale University, specializing in Middle Eastern environmental history, Ottoman Empire studies, and global early modern history. His work bridges ecological, political, and cultural dimensions, positioning the Ottoman Empire as a central actor in global history.

His research focuses on Egypt's environmental transformations, the role of animals in human societies, and the intersection of climate change with political structures. Notable works include My Egypt Archive (2023), winner of the Victor Turner Prize, and God’s Shadow (2020), which explores Sultan Selim’s legacy. He has also published extensively on Ottoman-Egyptian environmental policies and climate impacts in the Little Ice Age.

Awards include the Gold Medal in World History (2020) and the Ottoman and Turkish Studies Association Book Prize (2019). His writing spans academic journals like Environmental History and popular outlets such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Mikhail is currently investigating connections between Islam and colonial America, expanding his interdisciplinary approach to global historical networks.