Caroline Winterer in Italy

Caroline Winterer has been a professor in Stanford’s department of history since 2004, where she studies the exchange of ideas between Europe and America. She was director of the Stanford Humanities Center from 2013 to 2019, and is currently the Coe Professor of American History, and also the chair of the Department of History. Raised in Europe and the United States, she’s a native speaker of both English and French. She has authored or co-authored six books, won many awards for teaching and research, taught in the Bing Overseas Studies Program in Paris and frequently lectures for the Stanford Alumni Association.

Professor Winterer loves figuring out how ancient people thought about their world. “Given the sometimes tiny amounts of evidence we have for the past,” she asks, “how can we put together the puzzle of other people’s lives and experiences?” Her research focuses on how the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean and Europe—from the Paleolithic onward—have been interpreted and used by us moderns. She is keenly interested in exploring what ideas from these archaic societies continue to inspire us today.

During this program Professor Winterer’s lectures will delve into the fascinating world of ancient Italian civilizations and their enduring impact on the landscape. Focusing on the enigmatic Etruscans, the well-preserved port city of Ostia Antica, and the luxurious retreats of Roman emperors, the talks will explore themes of pre-Roman culture, urban development, and imperial power. She will also examine medieval defensive strategies through the lens of Orvieto, illustrating the evolution of Italian cities from ancient times through the Middle Ages.

• Professor, since 2010, assistant and associate professor, 2004–2010, and current chair, department of history, Stanford University

• Professor, by courtesy, department of classics, since 2011, Stanford University

• Director and Anthony P. Meier Family Professor in the Humanities, 2013–2019, Stanford Humanities Center

• Recipient of numerous fellowships: from the Mellon Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, Stanford Humanities Center and the Spencer Foundation, among others

• BA (cum laude), history, 1988, Pomona College

• MA, 1991, and PhD, 1996—both history, University of Michigan