Jacob Latham

Jacob Latham serves as Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, specializing in the religious and cultural dynamics of the ancient Mediterranean world.

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. from Swarthmore College
• M.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara
• Ph.D. from University of California, Santa Barbara

Professor Latham's research centers on Roman religious practices, civic identity formation, and cultural transitions during Late Antiquity. His work critically examines intersections between traditional Roman religions, early Christianity, and urban life in the Roman Empire, with particular attention to ritual performance and collective memory. Methodologically, he bridges historical analysis with anthropological approaches to reconstruct lived experiences in antiquity.

He actively mentors graduate students pursuing research in Late Antique cultural, religious, and urban history, while teaching undergraduate and graduate courses covering Roman imperial history, classical Mediterranean religious systems, and ancient Christian communities. His pedagogical approach emphasizes primary source analysis and contextual understanding of historical phenomena.