Dr. Maureen Miller

Biography

Maureen C. Miller is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research explores the extraordinary capacity of individuals and societies to change, particularly during the rapid transformations in Europe during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. She interrogates contemporary understandings of life choices and the social, economic, political, and cultural forces that condition medieval religious beliefs and practices, which figure centrally in her work. Miller is particularly interested in the movements of reform in the eleventh and twelfth centuries and examines the efforts made to create a Christian society during the Carolingian era. Her distinguished interdisciplinary research includes the exploration of the material culture of western Christianity and the novel claims of authority advanced by the priesthood within the new ecclesiastical social order. Additionally, she has a longstanding fascination with medieval Italian cities, focusing on the development of institutions, social relations, and urban landscapes. Miller's studies investigate the creative interaction and reciprocal influence of religious and communal institutions, particularly in the context of decision-making and ritual expression.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards