Seth Bernard

Seth Bernard is a Professor of Classics at the University of Toronto, specializing in Roman social and economic history, Roman archaeology, and the application of scientific methods to historical studies. He holds a PhD in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania and has been affiliated with institutions such as the American School for Classical Studies at Athens and the American Academy in Rome. His research integrates archaeology, anthropology, and environmental science to explore pre-Imperial and Republican Italy, focusing on labor, urbanization, and historical culture.

Education includes a BA in Classics from Amherst College and a PhD in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania. He has led major projects like the Falerii Novi excavation in Italy, investigating Roman urbanism and environmental history. His work has been supported by grants from SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), including a Connection Grant and an Insight Grant.

Research interests include the economic foundations of Roman imperialism, climate history, and the role of slavery in ancient economies. Notable publications include Building Mid-Republican Rome (2018), Historical Culture in Iron Age Italy (2023), and co-edited volumes on the Middle Republic and Greco-Roman economic models. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Roman Archaeology and editorial board member of the Journal of Roman Studies.

Awards include the Rome Prize Fellowship (American Academy in Rome) and recognition for interdisciplinary research. Current projects include the Oxford Handbook of the Iron Age Mediterranean and studies on labor and the Roman economy.