Dr. Daniel Smail

Biography

Daniel L. Smail is a Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of History at Harvard University and currently serves as the Interim Department Chair. His research explores history anthropology and Mediterranean societies from 1100 to 1600, with a focus on deep human history. His work in medieval European history has delved into social and cultural histories of cities in Mediterranean Europe, particularly the focus on Marseille during the Middle Ages. His subjects of study include themes surrounding women, Jews, legal history, and spatial imagination, which are evident in his book, 'Imaginary Cartographies: Possession and Identity in Late Medieval Marseille' (1999). Smail's ongoing research investigates transformations in material culture during the Middle Ages through household inventories and debt recovery in locations such as Lucca and Marseille. He has also contributed to the field with his work in deep history and neurohistory, questioning the methodological and theoretical foundations of approaches to understanding the human past. His significant publications include 'Consumption and Justice: Emotions, Publicity, and Legal Culture in Marseille, 1264-1423' (2003) and 'Deep History and the Brain' (2008). Smail has been recognized for his contributions through various fellowships and awards, including the Joseph R. Levenson Memorial Teaching Prize in 2007 and the Everett Mendelsohn Excellence in Mentoring Award in 2014.

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Awards