Since October 2024 Michael is working on PhD with the Ex-Patria Project. Michael’s dissertation is focused on Tracing Captive Experiences in Late Antique Eastern Mediterranean and West Asia through Syriac sources (4th c. – early 7th c.) under the joint supervision of Ekaterina Nechaeva, Stéphane Benoist and Muriel Debié.
This dissertation project will take into consideration a wide selection of sources from both the East and West Syriac milieus. A study on Syriac sources on the subject of captivity has never been done before, as previous focus on the matter has been placed mainly on Greek texts, and on single, specific cases in the case of Syriac works. A thorough, critical study of captive experiences in Syriac sources can provide novel insights into the wider historical setting between the 4th and early 7th centuries, while also driving towards a deeper understanding of the networks and movements of individuals within and across the Roman and Sasanian empires.
Short bio
Michael has a BA in History (University of Venice) and an MA in Religious Studies (University of Padua, University of Venice). He is involved in the world of Syriac studies, with a focus on the Syriac communities and their relations with the wider Iranian setting, including Central Asia. He is currently a fellow at Beth Mardutho, the Syriac Institute.