Professor Dr. Ryan Szpiech

Biography

Ryan Szpiech is an Associate Professor studying the cultures and literatures of medieval Iberia, with a focus on cultural interaction, exchange, and conflict. His research interests converge on the concept of translation across languages, alphabets, styles, beliefs, and identities. Particularly, he investigates conversion as a vehicle for exchange between different groups, situating this discourse within the context of medieval Iberian cultures and scholarly debates on tolerance and persecution. Szpiech has published numerous studies on key historical figures such as King Alfonso X 'the Wise', Ramon Llull, and others, focusing on the polemics and disputes among religious groups during the period. He has also authored a book that narrates the function of religious conversion in polemical writing from the 12th to the 15th centuries. In addition to his research, he teaches courses on the history of conversion in Iberia, the racialization associated with anti-convert discourse, and the representation of Jews and Muslims in Iberian Christian writing and art.

Research Interests