E. Natalie Rothman

Natalie Rothman is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). Her research focuses on early modern Mediterranean history, cultural mediation, translation studies, and archival genealogies of Orientalism.

• PhD in Anthropology and History from the University of Michigan
• MA in Culture Research (summa cum laude) from Tel Aviv University

Rothman’s work explores the role of diplomatic interpreters (dragomans) in shaping trans-imperial relationships between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, examining how translation practices influenced diplomatic exchanges and archival systems. Her research also intersects with digital scholarship and postcolonial theory.

Her publications include the monographs The Dragoman Renaissance (2021), which examines the intellectual networks of diplomatic interpreters, and Brokering Empire (2011), analyzing the role of intermediaries in Venetian-Ottoman relations. This work has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Mellon Foundation, and the Ontario Government.

Scientific Awards & Honors:

• Recipient of the Herbert Baxter Adams prize (2012)
• Howard R. Marraro prize (2012)
• Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Prize (2013)
• Inaugural member of the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists (2014-2021)

Rothman’s collaborative research investigates trans-imperial archives, tracing entanglements between Venetian and Ottoman chancery practices. She contributes to journals such as Comparative Studies in Society and History and Journal of Early Modern History.