Geoffrey Koziol

Geoffrey Koziol is a Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in late Carolingian and Capetian France, monasticism, political power, religious discourse, and diplomatics. He teaches courses on medieval European history, ritual studies, and historiography.

• Education
  • AB, Princeton University, 1973
  • MA, Stanford University, 1976
  • PhD, Stanford University, 1982

His research spans the intersection of politics and ritual in early medieval France, focusing on Carolingian and post-Carolingian monasticism, the Peace of God movement, and the use of charters and diplomas to analyze political and religious dynamics. He explores how rituals, liturgy, and historical narratives shaped power structures and community identities.

His publications highlight the role of religious discourse in political legitimacy, the evolution of medieval peace movements, and the methodological challenges of studying ritual. Themes include state formation, the cult of saints, and the historiography of medieval political theory.

Geoffrey Koziol has held academic positions at Harvard University and Hamline University, transitioning through Assistant to Professor roles at UC Berkeley since 1989. His courses cover topics such as the Christianization of Europe, monastic reform, and the ethics of political practice under the Carolingians.