John Gagné

John Gagné is Cassamarca Associate Professor of History at the University of Sydney and Director of the Medieval & Early Modern Collaborative Network (MEMC). His research focuses on European history (14th-18th centuries), particularly Italy and France, examining cultural friction, war representation, material culture, and sovereignty dynamics. He holds a BA and MA from the University of Toronto and an AM/PhD from Harvard University, with postdoctoral work at McGill and Concordia universities.

Gagné's research explores:

• War's impact on sovereignty and material culture
• Historical information technologies
• Gender and embodiment in premodern societies
• Cultural intersections in Italy/France during Renaissance
• Destruction/conservation of historical documents

His publications demonstrate consistent focus on materiality in conflict, Renaissance statecraft, and cultural preservation across Europe.

Awards include:

• Nelson Prize (2014)
• Villa I Tatti Fellowship (2016-17)
• ARC grants for projects on document loss and war logistics
• Multiple teaching excellence awards

He advises PhD/Master's students on topics spanning Renaissance society, global contact zones, and classical reception. Current projects include Paper World (on premodern document loss) and Mechanism/Organism (history of prosthetic hands).