Peter Burschel

Prof. Dr. Peter Burschel is a German historian specializing in Early Modern European History, Historical Anthropology, and Cultural Translation. Since 2016, he holds the Chair of Cultural History of the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period at Georg-August-University Göttingen while serving as Director of the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel. His career includes professorial roles at Humboldt University Berlin (2011–2016) and University of Rostock (2007–2011), preceded by acting professorships and habilitation in Freiburg im Breisgau (2002).

His research examines

• Cultural constructions of purity and identity
• Historical anthropology of political and social structures
• Personal testimonies in transcultural contexts
• European expansion as global interaction
• Material culture of collections and libraries

Recent publications focus on archival dynamics, translation practices, and the cultural significance of maritime spaces. He co-edits journals like Saeculum and Historische Anthropologie, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches combining history, ethnography, and cultural analysis.