Michael Gervers

Michael Gervers is a Full Professor of History at the University of Toronto's Department of Historical and Cultural Studies. He has taught since 1976 and led groundbreaking research projects such as the D.E.E.D.S Project, analyzing medieval English property documents, and co-founded the Central and Inner Asia Seminar (CIAS). He directs the Mazgaba Se’elet digital database of Ethiopian art and culture photographs. His course on Ethiopia’s cultural history is unique in North America.

• Education: A.B. (Princeton), M.A. (Poitiers), Ph.D. (Toronto)

Research focuses on medieval legal documents, Ethiopian art/archaeology, and Mongolian ancient art. Collaborates with statisticians to apply algorithms for dating undated medieval texts. Currently expanding the DEEDS database and digitizing the Gunda Gunde monastery manuscripts with Paulina Rousseau.

Scientific Awards: Killam Fellowship (1975).

Advising: Supervised PhD students Robin Sutherland-Harris and Eileen Kim. Funded by SSHRCC for ChartEx and DEEDS projects.

Labs/Teams: DEEDS Project, CIAS, Mazgaba Se’elet database.