PhD in History - Ancient/Medieval History in Nashville United States | Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is home to a vibrant community of scholars specializing in Ancient and Medieval history. Our faculty cover diverse geographic regions and historical periods, from the Roman Empire to medieval Europe, encompassing studies of Ancient/Medieval Syria, Judaism, Islam, and Asia. These scholars are united by their commitment to meticulous, evidence-based historical research, with expertise spanning legal, religious, economic, cultural, and military history. They collaborate extensively with renowned early modern historians and partner with programs including Classical and Mediterranean Studies, the Legal History Seminar, Jewish Studies, Women and Gender Studies, the Pre-Modern Cultural Studies seminar (Robert Penn Warren Center), and departments such as English, French & Italian, German, Russian and East European Studies, History of Art, and the Graduate Department of Religion.

We encourage applications from prospective graduate students who are passionate about specific historical fields as well as the broader methodological challenges facing pre-modern historians – including interpreting incomplete evidence, reconstructing cultural and symbolic worlds, moving beyond dominant textual sources, and formulating meaningful historical inquiries.
The graduate program offers flexibility, allowing students to design their academic path within the History Department's Ph.D. requirements. Applications are carefully assessed based on prior academic preparation (including relevant language proficiency) and writing samples. Prospective students are advised to reach out to potential advisors beforehand.