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Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies
Illuminated manuscript in Bishop Cosin's Library, Palace Green

Our Research

As the academic hub for Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, we champion a framework for rigorous research, impact, and dissemination, in order to strengthen the global understanding and appreciation of one of Europe’s great Palatinates. Our research covers a comprehensive range of areas from Late Antiquity to the late eighteenth century, with a global range from the Silk Road to the Anglo-Saxon and Viking North.

Our research is organised into strands, each of which fits within one or both of our overarching themes: The History of the Book and UNESCO and World Heritage.

Research Strands

Click on a research strand below to find out more

Centre for Studies in the Late Ancient World

Supports, develops, and enhances a wide range of multi- and interdisciplinary activities of the period c.200–c.1000 CE.
Ancient map

Early Modern Keywords

The study of language in history and language as history.
A collection of key early modern history words

The Georgian North

Investigating the intellectual and cultural life of County Durham and surrounding areas in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
An image of a bridge at Barnard castle

History of the Book

a library wall full of books

Historical Food

How food and food culture has evolved and influenced us.
A medieval food book and cooking preperation

History of Performance

Investigating all forms of performance - theatre, ceremony, music and dance - before 1800.
theatre seats

Scientific Study of Manuscripts

Bringing together the Sciences and the Humanities to explore manuscripts and their associated material culture.
A medieval manuscript

Spiritual Writings from the Low Countries

Studying the religious texts written in the Low Countries in the period 1200-1550.
Young man holding prayer book at St Gudula Metropolitan Museum 434x700px

UNESCO and Durham World Heritage

View of Durham City from across the river

French Books and their European Readers, 1500-1700

Investigating how the content and readership of French books shaped the intellectual history of Early Modern Europe.
A portrait image of a Bishop

Other Research Projects

Two cartoon figures of medieval and early modern characters

Get in touch

Enquiries about the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies should be sent via the email below.

Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies

7 Owengate
Durham
DH1 3HB

T:+44(0)191 3342974

E: admin.imems@durham.ac.uk