Kathryn Babayan

Kathryn Babayan is a Professor at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the Middle East Studies department. Her research focuses on the cultural, social, and political histories of the Persianate world, particularly Iran, Iraq, Anatolia, and Central Asia.

Her work integrates gender and sexuality studies, Safavid dynasty analysis, and material culture approaches to explore historical narratives. She is currently researching literacy practices in early modern Isfahan through her book The City as Anthology, examining how anthologies (majmu'a/muraqqa') reshaped urban experience and individual sovereignty.

Collaborations include co-authoring Slaves of the Shah with Susan Babaie, Massumeh Farhad, and Ena Baghdiantz-McCabe, and co-editing Islamicate Sexualities with Afsaneh Najmabadi. Her publications bridge historiography, religion, and visual culture.