New Books Network Ellen Muehlberger, "Things Unseen: Essays on Evidence, Knowledge, and the Late Ancient World" (U California Press, 2025)
Nov 10, 2025
Ellen Muehlberger, a Professor of History at the University of Michigan and editor of The Journal of Early Christian Studies, dives deep into knowledge and evidence in late antiquity. She explores how ancient people understood one another, revealing surprising parallels to modern knowledge. Muehlberger discusses ancient rhetorical exercises, the impact of space on Christian identity, and how cultural priorities are reflected in church councils. She also highlights the role of context in understanding artifacts like Fayoum portraits, advocating for interdisciplinary and accessible scholarship.
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Ways Of Knowing Reveal Different Worlds
- Approaching other cultures through 'ways of knowing' avoids judging them by modern progress narratives.
- This reveals what those societies valued and explains behaviours that seem irrational to us.
Write Lectures To Spark New Research
- Use lecture-style writing to take big interpretive swings that provoke further research.
- Present bold claims on familiar ground so readers can test, argue, or expand them.
Rhetorical Play Creates Durable Stereotypes
- Ancient rhetorical schools trained boys in first-person roles including women and impossible figures.
- Those exercises produced durable character stereotypes that shaped social perceptions of real people.
