Alan Durston

Alan Durston is Professor in the Department of History at York University, specializing in the cultural and social history of Peru from the 16th to 20th centuries. His research examines indigenous languages, colonial history, and language politics in Latin America, with a focus on Quechua-language texts and cultural expression.

Dr. Durston holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Chicago, an MA in History from Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and an MA in History from the University of Cambridge.

Research Focus: Quechua language documentation, colonial religious translation, indigenous literacy, and the relationship between language and political authority in Peru. His work bridges historical linguistics and social history, examining how indigenous communities navigated colonial and post-colonial power structures through language.

Teaching: Offers courses on Latin American indigenous history, Spanish colonial history, and the history of language politics. Currently accepting new graduate students.