Elena Vanelli

Elena Vanelli is a Lecturer for special tasks in Ancient and Medieval History at the University of Kassel, where she has been employed since April 2021. Previously, she worked as a Research Associate at the University of Hamburg starting in April 2016.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in History from Catholic University of Milan (2009-2013)
• Semester abroad at Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen (2013-2014)
• Master's degree in 'Filologia Moderna' with history focus from Catholic University of Milan (2013-2015)

Dr. Vanelli's research specializes in Medieval History with particular emphasis on women's religious communities and monastic institutions in Italy and Germany. Her work examines social structures within monasteries, the role of noble families in religious institutions, and ecclesiastical power dynamics between papal authority and local bishoprics during the 10th-15th centuries. She has conducted significant research on Cistercian nuns in Northern Italy and the social organization of German monasteries in the late Middle Ages.

Her publication record shows expertise in analyzing historical documents across multiple languages, with translations of scholarly works between German and Italian. Her research bridges linguistic and cultural boundaries to provide comprehensive analyses of medieval religious institutions and their political contexts.