Dr. Maarten Van Dijck

Biography

Maarten Van Dijck is an Associate Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam, specializing in the history theory of social sciences. His teaching focuses on the theories and methodologies employed in historical social research. Maarten's research predominantly examines urban history from a long-term perspective. His PhD research investigated the complex relationships between criminalization, urbanization, and behavioral changes in urban societies during the late medieval and early modern periods. His thesis posits that urban growth in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries resulted in a decline in interpersonal violence in Europe, particularly in larger cities around the year 1500. His studies also explore the evolution of democracy, civil societies, and public spheres in the Low Countries from the late medieval through the early modern periods. Additionally, Maarten's research addresses the unequal distribution of social resources in the Low Countries during the early modern era, utilizing social science concepts to comprehend long-term historical developments leading to the rise of democratic societies. Methodologically, he employs digital humanities techniques such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Social Network Analysis in his research.

Research Interests