Episode 59 with Thomas Barton

In this episode, we begin by discussing the origins of the Crown of Aragon. Then, we transition into a conversation about the role and treatment of religious minorities in the Late Middle Ages not only in the Crown of Aragon, but across medieval Europe more broadly. Within this broad topic, we focus on the role of royal processions and what they can tell us about religious minorities and their place within medieval societies. Finally, we explore some of the sources, archives, and techniques that historians use to engage with the past, and we hypothesize about where the field might go in the future.

The Episode

The Guest

Thomas Barton earned his undergraduate degree in History and Medieval Studies at Princeton, and an MA and PhD in Medieval History at Yale. After graduating, he taught for a year at Oberlin College before relocating to the University of San Diego in 2007 where he is currently a Professor of History.

Dr. Barton’s research concerns the relationship between different ethno-religious communities within Iberia and the Western Mediterranean (including North Africa) during the medieval period (especially from 1000-1400). He is a highly active archival historian, and he has won numerous fellowships to support his work, including full-year fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies in 2010 and the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2019.

To date, Dr. Barton has written three monographs, edited three collaborative volumes, and authored numerous peer-reviewed articles in top journals. In addition, he is currently working on three additional monographs, numerous additional articles, and a popular history on conquest, colonialism, and empire building.

Suggested Readings

• Barton, Thomas W. Contested Treasure: Jews and Authority in the Crown of Aragon. Penn State Press, 2015.
• _____. Victory’s Shadow: Conquest and Governance in Medieval Catalonia. Cornell University Press, 2019.
• Catlos, Brian A. The Victors and the Vanquished: Christians and Muslims of Catalonia and Aragon, 1050-1300. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
• Meyerson, Mark D. Jews in an Iberian Frontier Kingdom: Society, Economy, and Politics in Morvedre, 1248-1391. Brill, 2004.
• Nirenberg, David. Communities of Violence: Persecution of Minorities in the Middle Ages. Princeton University Press, 2015.