Joe Biden as a Blue Hen
History
Uncover the Past,
Shape the Future
Explore History at UD
Welcome to the History Department
Explore our shared human experience in the Department of History. Our distinguished faculty and engaging course offerings will immerse you in pivotal events, transformative ideas, and captivating stories. Whether your passion lies in ancient empires, modern revolutions, or topics like medicine or the environment, the Department of History provides a vibrant intellectual community. Here you will gain invaluable analytical skills, multicultural perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the past to help navigate the present and imagine the future.
Why History?
- A world of possibilities: Whether you have a specific professional career goal or wish to gain skills in writing, research, or analytical thinking that will provide a strong foundation for careers in many fields, you’ll find that studying in the Department of History will open doors to a world of possibilities.
- Community Engagement: The University of Delaware's history department actively engages with the community through various programs and partnerships, enhancing students' educational experiences and contributing to local and regional historical preservation and education efforts.
Graduates of 2022
are finding employment success in 44 states in the U.S. (and Washington, D.C.) and 30 other countries around the world.
Top 3%
UD is in the top 3% in the U.S. for research activity, offering students access to cutting-edge facilities and opportunities to engage in impactful research.
Latest News
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_800x533.jpg "Rudi Matthee is the recipient of a prestigious 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship")
Windows to the world
July 06, 2026 | Written by Megan M.F. EverhartA Guggenheim Fellowship celebrates a historian whose research on Iran invites students to discover new perspectives through the study of the past -
Cheers to the Class of 2026
May 23, 2026 | Written by Amy WolfCommencement speaker Mariah Calagione, co-founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, inspires graduates to find connection and community. -
Blue Hens making an impact
May 07, 2026 | Written by Christy SelagyCAS alum and history majorJohn Riley honored for excellence by UD Alumni Association -
History Faculty Recognized through Major Book Awards
May 06, 2026 | Written by Natasha KapadiaThree department scholars earn national and international recognition for recent publications.
Upcoming Events
UD 2024 Graduate Rachel Gaebel shares “The Class That Will Stay With Me”
YouTube Link UD 2024 Graduate Rachel Gaebel shares “The Class That Will Stay With Me”: youtube.com/watch?v=_cqaNPjugDY
Study with dynamic scholars
Jake Ransohoff's research and teaching centers on late antique and medieval Europe and the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on the Byzantine empire. His research interests include the punishment of crimes in Byzantium and the medieval West, the development of medieval Slavic societies, and the study of Byzantium by scholars in the early modern period. He has excavated at archaeological sites in Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Spain, and is co-editor of the volumes The Invention of Byzantium in Early Modern Europe (2021) and Byzantine History and the Antiquarian (2025).
Prof. Ransohoff holds a BA from the University of Chicago and a PhD from Harvard. Before coming to Delaware in Fall 2025, he held postdoctoral fellowships at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University and the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies at Princeton University and was a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Bowdoin College.
Jake Ransohoff
