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Ali Karjoo-Ravary is the Richard W. Bulliet Assistant Professor of Islamic History at Columbia University, specializing in the intellectual, social, and visual histories of premodern Islam through Arabic, Persian, and Turkic sources. His research intersects historical writing, cosmology, Sufism, and multilingual poetry in the Islamic East (Mashriq). Education: Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (2018) M.A., University of Pennsylvania (2016) B.A., SUNY Stony Brook (2011) His current book project, Muhammad’s Song: Politics, Performance, and Cosmology in the Fourteenth Century , examines post-Mongol Islamic monarchy through Kadi Burhaneddin's life and rule. He also explores Sufi visual iconography, science fiction's relationship to religion, and architecture's role in evolving Islamic discourses. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Bard Graduate Center Visiting Fellow (Fall 2020) Wolf Humanities Center Graduate Research Fellow (2016-2017)

• Islamic History
• Intellectual History
• Social History
• +8 more

Purnima Dhavan is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Washington's College of Arts & Sciences, holding the Giovanni and Amne Costigan Endowed Professorship. She specializes in early modern South Asia (1500-1800), focusing on religious and cultural identity, Mughal institutions, and literary networks. Her research integrates interdisciplinary methods, with adjunct affiliations in Near Eastern Languages and the Jackson School's South Asia Center. Education: PhD in South Asian History from the University of Virginia (2003), MA (1998), and BA (1996) from the University of Michigan. She has taught at multiple institutions, including the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University and Bowdoin College. Research Interests: Mughal literary culture, Sikh warrior traditions, gender in pre-colonial societies, and environmental history. Notable works include her book *When Sparrows Became Hawks* (2011) on Sikh militarization and a forthcoming project on literary associations in Mughal urban centers. Publications span peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, emphasizing pre-colonial South Asia’s intellectual and socio-political dynamics. Awards include the Howard Keller Chair and NEH fellowships. Service: Extensive contributions to academic governance at UW, including roles in the Faculty Senate, departmental leadership, and national professional organizations like the American Historical Association and Association of Asian Studies. Languages: Native Hindi speaker, advanced Urdu/Persian/Punjabi, and proficient in Spanish.

• South Asian History
• Mughal Empire Studies
• Comparative Gender Studies
• +4 more

Sanjay Subrahmanyam is Distinguished Professor of History and Irving & Jean Stone Endowed Chair in Social Sciences at UCLA's Department of History. A globally recognized historian of the early modern period (15th-18th centuries), he previously held prestigious positions at the Collège de France (2013-2021), University of Oxford (2002-2004), and Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris (1995-2002). He founded UCLA's Center for India and South Asia (2005-2011) and maintains significant academic engagement in France through media appearances and lectures. His educational background includes: M.A. in Economics (First Rank with Gold Medal), Delhi School of Economics (1982) Ph.D. in Economic History, Delhi School of Economics (1987) Honorary D.Litt., University of Calcutta (2015) Doctorat honoris causa, Université catholique de Louvain (2017) Subrahmanyam's research revolutionized global historical methodology through his pioneering concept of 'connected histories,' which challenges Eurocentric periodization and emphasizes horizontal connections across regions. His work spans South Asian political culture, Indian Ocean trade networks, Iberian imperial systems, and Mughal court dynamics, consistently integrating multilingual archives and visual sources. He demonstrates exceptional mastery in synthesizing Portuguese, Spanish, Persian, Tamil, and Sanskrit materials to reconstruct non-Western perspectives on early modern globalization. His recent publications reveal intensified focus on transcultural encounters, maritime archaeology, and the material dimensions of empire. Works like Across the Green Sea (2024) and Mirrors of Empire (2026) showcase his shift toward analyzing ego-documents and visual culture to explore identity formation in frontier zones. The consistent thread remains his critique of civilizational boundaries and emphasis on fluid cultural exchanges across the Indian Ocean world. His scientific recognition includes: Infosys Humanities Prize (2012) Dan David Prize for History (2019) Prix International de l'Histoire (2020) Fellowship in American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2009) Corresponding Fellowship in British Academy (2016) Guggenheim Fellowship (2011-12) Subrahmanyam has mentored nine doctoral students to completion, maintaining active collaborations with Muzaffar Alam (University of Chicago), Velcheru Narayana Rao (University of Wisconsin), and David Shulman (Hebrew University). His editorial leadership includes co-editing The Cambridge World History (2015) and serving over a decade as Joint Managing Editor of the Indian Economic and Social History Review . He currently directs major international projects on Indo-Persian travel writing and Mughal intellectual networks. Though not leading a traditional laboratory, he coordinates the 'Connected Histories' research initiative across UCLA, Collège de France, and University of Chicago, fostering interdisciplinary teams examining early modern knowledge circulation. His public engagement includes regular contributions to French media (France 24, France Info) and curated exhibitions like the Codex Casanatense project.

• Early Modern History
• South Asian History
• Indian Ocean History
• +7 more

Reyhan Durmaz is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the School of Arts & Sciences and multiple interdisciplinary programs. Her research focuses on Syriac Christianity, medieval religious dynamics, and the intersection of Christianity and Islam in late antiquity. She holds a Ph.D. from Brown University (2019) and has received prestigious fellowships such as the Dumbarton Oaks Junior Fellowship and the Charlotte Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship. Her seminal book Stories between Christianity and Islam (2022) examines the transmission of saints' stories between religious traditions, earning Honorable Mention from the Middle East Medievalists. Current projects include a study of rural Christianity in the medieval Middle East through soldier-monk narratives and an analysis of the 19th-century Arabic newspaper Kawkab America . She co-leads the Digital Photograph Archive project Visualizing Countryside , documenting medieval religious sites. Dr. Durmaz teaches courses on global Christianity, material culture, and late antiquity, and serves as co-chair of the Philadelphia Seminar on Christian Origins. Her work bridges historical analysis, textual scholarship, and digital humanities, addressing themes of religious identity, cultural exchange, and marginalized communities.

• Syriac Christianity
• Medieval Studies
• Byzantine Studies
• +7 more

M. Rahim Shayegan is a prominent scholar in Iranian and Near Eastern studies, specializing in Old and Middle Iranian philology, Achaemenid-Sasanian history, and Greco-Roman-Iranian cultural interactions. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Göttingen and Sorbonne. His work bridges philology, epigraphy, and historical analysis to explore ancient political ideologies, religious traditions, and cross-cultural exchanges. Education: PhD, Iranian Philology & Ancient History, Harvard University MA, Iranian Philology, Sorbonne University BA, Philosophy & Comparative Philology, University of Cologne Research Interests: Iranian epigraphy and royal inscriptions Political dynamics of pre-Islamic Iranian empires Greco-Roman and Iranian cultural dialogues Zoroastrianism and ancient Near Eastern religions His publications include seminal works like Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic Persia (2011) and Cyrus the Great: Life and Lore (2019). He has held prestigious fellowships at the Guggenheim Foundation and is a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Awards: Ehsan Yarshater Book Award (2012) Academia Europaea Membership (2019–) Courses Taught: Achaemenid Civilization Sasanian History Old Persian Cuneiform Zoroastrianism and Ancient Religions

• Ancient Iranian History
• Iranian Philology
• Cultural Exchange Studies
• +3 more

Alexander Key is an Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Stanford University, specializing in Classical Arabic literature and the intellectual history of Arabic and Persian-speaking worlds from the 7th century onwards. His scholarship focuses on the philosophy of language, literary theory, and cross-cultural translation. Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Harvard University (2012) Current research: Arabo-Persian linguistic intersections, poetics in translation, and pre-modern theories of syntax and affect His articles span diverse eras and topics, including: Medieval Arabic language philosophy (5th–11th century) Modern Arabic political poetry analysis (20th–21st century) Comparative methodologies bridging Islamic and Western traditions A key editorial role includes: Board Member of Stanford University Press Advisory roles at Habib University and Stanford’s Markaz Resource Center His work bridges academic publication with public discourse through: Contributions to Arcade Colloquy Interviews on poetics, religion, and contemporary politics Podcasts and literary salon discussions

• Classical Arabic literature
• Arabic philosophy of language
• Persian literature
• +5 more

Fahad Ahmad Bishara is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia , specializing in the economic and legal history of the Indian Ocean and Islamic world . His work bridges global capitalism, international law, and historical narratives of mobility. Key Books: A Sea of Debt (Cambridge, 2017) and Monsoon Voyagers (UC Press, forthcoming) Awards: Hurst Prize, Jerry Bentley Prize, Peter Gonville Stein Book Award Research Focus: Explores debt, legal systems, and trade through microhistories of ships and merchant families, with recent interests in narrative scales and conceptualizations of law in global history. Academic Collaborations: Co-authored works with Nandini Chatterjee, Hollian Wint, and others, emphasizing Persianate and Indian Ocean interconnections. Scientific Awards: J. Willard Hurst Prize (Law and Society Association) Jerry Bentley Prize (World History Association) Peter Gonville Stein Book Award (American Society for Legal History)

• Legal History
• Economic History
• Indian Ocean World
• +7 more

Wael B. Hallaq is the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University’s Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies. His work focuses on Islamic law, intellectual history, and the socio-political impacts of modernity. He critiques Orientalist paradigms and explores the interplay between moral theory and legal history in Islamic traditions. His research spans structural dynamics of legal change in pre-modern law, moral theory’s role in Islamic legal history, and the critique of modern state sovereignty. His influential books include *The Impossible State* (2013), which earned Columbia University Press’s Distinguished Book Award, and *Shari‘a: Theory, Practice, Transformations* (2009). Education: No explicit educational details provided in text. His writings bridge legal theory, history, and political thought, challenging Eurocentric frameworks in Islamic studies. His analyses of pre-modern legal systems and modernity’s moral dilemmas have been translated into multiple languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian. Awards: Columbia University Press Distinguished Book Award (2013–2015) No grants, labs, or advising details explicitly mentioned in the text.

• Islamic Law
• Islamic Intellectual History
• Modernity and Its Impact
• +4 more

Nicholas Boylston is an Assistant Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). His research focuses on classical Persian literature and Persianate Islam, exploring themes of diversity and unity in Sufi, philosophical, and literary works. He holds a BA from Harvard College, MA from the University of Tehran, and PhD from Georgetown University (2017). Previously, he served as a College Fellow/Lecturer at Harvard (2018-21) and Assistant Professor at Seattle University (2021-23). His scholarship examines interactions between Twelver Shiʿism and Sufism in Quranic commentaries, as well as perspectivist thought in classical Persian literature. Current projects include a book on pluralistic modes of thought in Persian literature's formative phase. Education: B.A., Harvard College M.A., University of Tehran Ph.D., Georgetown University (2017) Publications emphasize Quranic exegesis, Sufi philosophy, and medieval Persian intellectual history. His work bridges theological debates, literary analysis, and historical contextualization.

• Classical Persian Literature
• Persianate Islam
• Sufi Writings
• +3 more

Professor Ahmet T. Karamustafa serves as Professor and Department Chair of History at the University of Maryland, College Park, and holds affiliations with the Roshan Institute for Persian Studies and the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. He also serves as Senior Advisor to PersDig@UMD. His research focuses on medieval and early modern Islamic intellectual history, Sufism, and Ottoman Turkish religious texts. Key works include Sufism: The Formative Period (2007) and God’s Unruly Friends (1994), exploring ascetic movements and mystical literature. Current projects include The Flowering of Sufism and Vernacular Islam . His academic contributions span editorial roles in major publications like Cartography in the Traditional Islamic and South Asian Societies (1992). Research expertise bridges religious studies theory, Ottoman manuscript analysis, and medieval Anatolian religious dynamics. Administrative experience includes directing Washington University's Religious Studies Program and co-chairing the American Academy of Religion’s Study of Islam Section (2008–2011). Research interests emphasize comparative religious frameworks, Sufi textual traditions, and the interplay between Islamic intellectual history and regional cultural contexts. His work critically engages Western models of religion through Islamic conceptual frameworks like 'din,' offering new methodologies for studying premodern Muslim thought.

• Early Modern History
• Medieval History
• Middle Eastern Studies
• +4 more

Muzaffar Alam is the George V. Bobrinsky Professor at the University of Chicago's South Asian Languages and Civilizations (SALC) , within the Division of the Arts & Humanities. He has taught at UChicago since 2001, following a three-decade tenure at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). His expertise spans Mughal political history, Indo-Islamic culture, and pre-colonial South Asian religious and literary traditions. He is fluent in Persian, Arabic, Urdu, and Hindi, and actively supervises students in medieval South Asian studies. Education: Ph.D. in History, Jawaharlal Nehru University (1976) Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University Research focuses on Mughal governance, Indo-Persian cultural exchange, and textual studies. He has held visiting positions at the Collège de France, Leiden University, and the EHESS (Paris). Courses taught include Mughal India, South Asian Islam, and advanced Urdu/Persian seminars. Publications include seminal works like The Mughal State 1526-1750 and Indo-Persian Travels in the Age of Discovery . His scholarship bridges history, philology, and comparative Islamic studies from an Indian perspective. Labs/Teams: Actively involved with SALC's research initiatives and textual analysis projects. Supervises advanced language studies and historical manuscript work.

• Mughal Political History
• Indo-Islamic Culture
• Pre-colonial Northern India History
• +3 more

Rajeev Kinra is an Associate Professor of History at Northwestern University, specializing in early modern South Asian cultural history with a focus on Mughal and early British Empires. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2008). His research integrates Persian, Hindi-Urdu, and Sanskrit sources to explore themes of civility, cosmopolitanism, and cultural modernity. He directs Northwestern’s Asian Studies Program (2015-18) and co-directs the Global Humanities Initiative. Notable publications include Writing Self, Writing Empire (2015), analyzing the Mughal state secretary Chandar Bhan Brahman. Education: Ph.D., University of Chicago, 2008. Research interests emphasize South Asian and global history, particularly Indo-Persian literary and intellectual cultures, Mughal governance, and comparative philology. Awards include an NEH fellowship and a Buffett Institute grant for global humanities projects. Teaching focuses on early modern India and modern South Asia, with courses on global history and the Indian Ocean world. Affiliations include the Buffett Institute, Asian Languages and Cultures, and the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA).

• South Asian History
• Global History
• Religious History
• +4 more

Ali Anooshahr is a Professor in the History Department at the University of California, Davis, specializing in early modern Persianate and Mughal Indian history. He holds a Ph.D. from UCLA (2005) and has held academic positions at Saint Xavier University (2007-2008) before joining UC Davis. His research focuses on empires, Indo-Persian culture, historiography, slavery, and economic history, supported by fellowships from the Guggenheim, Mellon, and Hellman Foundations. Education: Ph.D., History, UCLA, 2005 M.A., History, UCLA, 2002 B.A., Humanities, University of Texas at Austin, 1998 Research interests include the political, cultural, and economic dynamics of early modern empires, particularly Mughal India and the Persianate world. He has authored influential works such as Slavery in the Early Mughal World (2025) and Turkestan and the Rise of Eurasian Empires (2018). His articles explore topics like the Arghun state in Qandahar, Safavid campaigns, and the role of elephants in imperial symbolism. Awards and recognitions include the Guggenheim Fellowship (2021), UC Davis Hellman Fellowship (2009-10), and CLIR/Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005-6). He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient . Teaching focuses on medieval and Mughal India, Safavid Iran, and Islamic history. His interdisciplinary work bridges economic, social, and cultural approaches to early modern empires, with a particular emphasis on Persianate manuscripts and historiography.

• Empires
• Indo-Persian culture
• Historiography
• +3 more

Kathryn Babayan is a Professor at the University of Michigan , affiliated with the Middle East Studies department. Her research focuses on the cultural, social, and political histories of the Persianate world, particularly Iran, Iraq, Anatolia, and Central Asia. Her work integrates gender and sexuality studies , Safavid dynasty analysis , and material culture approaches to explore historical narratives. She is currently researching literacy practices in early modern Isfahan through her book The City as Anthology , examining how anthologies (majmu'a/muraqqa') reshaped urban experience and individual sovereignty. Collaborations include co-authoring Slaves of the Shah with Susan Babaie, Massumeh Farhad, and Ena Baghdiantz-McCabe, and co-editing Islamicate Sexualities with Afsaneh Najmabadi. Her publications bridge historiography , religion , and visual culture .

• Iranian History
• Persianate World
• Cultural Studies
• +7 more

Maziar Behrooz is an Associate Professor in the History Department at San Francisco State University (SFSU), where he has held academic positions since 1995. He specializes in the history of the Near East, modern Iran, and the Islamic world, with particular focus on political movements, international relations, and revolutionary dynamics. Behrooz holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from UCLA (1993), alongside advanced degrees from SFSU and Saint Mary's College. His academic career includes visiting positions at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and other institutions. His research interests encompass Iranian foreign policy, the Iranian Left's historical trajectory, Russo-Iranian relations, and the socio-political dimensions of the Islamic Revolution. He has authored seminal works such as Rebels with a Cause: The Failure of the Left in Iran (1999) and Iran at War: Interaction with the Modern World (2023). His scholarship critically examines themes like state formation, ideological fragmentation, and geopolitical conflicts. Behrooz frequently presents at international conferences (MESA, AIS) and reviews major works in peer-reviewed journals like International Journal of Middle East Studies . He is affiliated with professional organizations including the Middle East Studies Association and holds proficiency in English, Persian, and French. His academic contributions bridge historical analysis with contemporary political discourse, particularly regarding Iran's domestic and international challenges.

• Iranian History
• Modern Middle Eastern Studies
• Islamic World History
• +4 more