Dr. Nicholas Purcell

Biography

Nicholas Purcell is an Emeritus Camden Professor of Ancient History and a Fellow at Brasenose College, University of Oxford. He has an extensive academic background, having studied at Worcester College, Oxford from 1973 to 1977. Following this, he held a Fellow Examination at Souls' College, Oxford from 1977 to 1979, and then served as an Official Fellow Tutor in Ancient History at St John's College, Oxford from 1979 until 2011. In 2011, he became the Camden Professor of Ancient History at the University of Oxford. His research interests focus on ancient social, economic, and cultural history, with particular emphasis on peninsular Italy, especially the city of Rome. He examines Mediterranean history within broader historical contexts, covering topics like wine, viticulture, gardens, and urbanism. His teaching includes lecturing on Roman history at the PGT level, where he supervises students and engages in scholarly research. Purcell's work explores themes of mobility, geography, and the ancient Mediterranean world.

Research Interests