معرفی
Dr. Joshua Rushton is a Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of Manchester's History Department within the School of Arts, Languages, and Cultures. He joined the department in 2024 after completing his PhD at the University of Leeds, which was funded by the AHRC through WRoCAH. His academic journey began with undergraduate and master's studies at the University of Warwick, including specialized work in Venice through the Venice Programme.
Dr. Rushton specializes in the social and cultural history of early modern religious life with a particular focus on Italian Catholicism. His research examines how religious change was understood and experienced in early modern contexts, with specific attention to sacred immanence, devotional culture, and the relationship between Catholic renewal and environmental change. His doctoral work explored urban devotional life, Catholic Reform, and sacred immanence in Venice, which he is currently developing into a monograph titled Encountering the Sacred in Early Modern Venice, 1500-1750.
His recent publications reveal a research trajectory focused on post-Tridentine Catholic culture, miracle narratives, and shrine formation, demonstrating his expertise in the emotional and spiritual dimensions of early modern religious practice. In 2026, he will begin a 3-year Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship to pursue his project 'Catholic Renewal and Environmental change in the Early Modern World,' which promises to bridge religious history with environmental humanities.
- Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2026)
Dr. Rushton teaches across all levels of the History program at Manchester, incorporating primary sources from the Manchester Museum and John Rylands Research Institute. His teaching portfolio spans from first-year foundational courses to specialized third-year and postgraduate modules on topics including colonial America, gender studies, and critical ecologies. As an Associate Fellow of Advance HE, he emphasizes pedagogical innovation and academic skills development in his teaching practice.
