Talk: What history tells us about our societies with renowned historians Prof Denis and Prof Elisabeth Crouzet

This event will be delivered in French only

On the occasion of the donation of more than 1700 books to Sorbonne University Abu Dhabis’ Library by Professors Denis Crouzet and Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan, the university is pleased to host a talk by Professors Crouzet where they will share insights on their journey as research faculty at Sorbonne University in Paris and as History department visiting professors at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. The talk will cover what history tells us about our societies and the work of historians. Internationally recognised for their respective work, Prof Denis Crouzet and Prof Elisabeth Crouzet’s research has contributed to the enrichment of the historian’s library and has renewed the understanding of our past and ultimately present societies. A fruitful questioning on what history teaches us about our societies and the work of the historian, torn between an ever-present past and a past present with sometimes disturbing echoes.…

The collection of donated books recounts their intellectual journeys across Europe, from medieval Italy to France during the Wars of Religion. A specialist in medieval and Renaissance Italy, Prof Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan has reconstructed the living history of many Italian societies and cities, in particular the powerful city-state of Venice, already a witness to an incipient globalisation at the dawn of the ” modernity”. A specialist of modern Europe, Denis Crouzet has masterfully analyzed the violence of the Wars of Religion in the 16th century before reconstructing the individual destinies of Europeans who lived through this tragic, war-torn century. From the Germanic Emperor Charles V to Christopher Columbus’ Atlantic crossing to India, from Nostradamus’ apocalyptic prophecies to Michel de l’Hospital’s dreams of religious tolerance, these men embody the legacy of the tragic events that wreaked havoc, at their time, in Changing Europe.

About the speakers

Prof Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan, PhD in History, was professor of Medieval History at Sorbonne University (formerly Paris-Sorbonne) from 1997 to 2021. Her research focuses on the last centuries of the Middle Ages and the first Italian Renaissance. She was amongst the first visiting professors who taught at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. She received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from Gant University, and she was awarded the French Legion of Honour in 2018 and the French Legion of National Order of Merit in 2015. This year, her book Venise (Belin editions) was awarded the History of Europe Book Award 2022.

Prof Denis Crouzet , Prof Denis Crouzet, PhD in History, held the chair of Early Modern History of the 16th century at the Sorbonne University (formerly Paris-Sorbonne) from 1994 to 2021. His research is devoted to the politico-religious troubles of the 16th century in France and Europe. He was amongst the first visiting professors who taught at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. In 2008, Prof Denis Crouzet received the Madeleine Laurain-Portemer prize from the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques for his work. He was also made Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2014.

Key facts about the donated book collection
Total number of works: 1,715
Main subjects:
• History (1,197 books which represent 70% of the collection, 50% of which deals with the history of France, the remaining 50% dealing with Europe, Italy and Spain)
• Religion (261books which represent 15% of the collection

The books publication dates range from 1923 (Plattard J. Guillaume Budé : 1468-1540 Et Les Origines De L’humanisme Français. Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1923) to 2021.

Prof Denis and Prof Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan in the collection
Prof Denis Crouzet is the main author of seven books, the introduction author of one book and a contributor to twenty-three collective works or dossiers published in journals or magazines.

Prof Elisabeth Crouzet-Pavan is the main author of six books, the author of the preface of two books and a contributor to ten collective works or dossiers in journals or magazines.

Kindly note that this event will be photographed and videographed

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