Martha Roth

Martha T. Roth is the Chauncey S. Boucher Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago and Editor-in-Charge of the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary. She has been affiliated with the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) and has taught at the University of Chicago since 1980. Her research focuses on the legal and social history of the ancient Near East, particularly family law, women’s legal and social roles, and the compilation/transmission of legal norms.

Education: Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1979.

Research Interests: Roth’s work explores Mesopotamian law cases, ancient legal frameworks, and gender dynamics in antiquity. Her projects bridge cuneiform studies with broader historical analysis, leveraging textual evidence to reconstruct social structures and legal practices. She leads the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary project, a cornerstone of Assyriological research.

Teaching & Affiliations: Affiliated with the Akkadian Language Program and regularly teaches courses on Mesopotamian law, Akkadian language, and ancient Near Eastern studies. Courses include HUMA 14100, AKKD 10102, and NEHC 20019/30019.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary project and collaborates with ISAC on ancient cultural studies initiatives.