“Genius Grant” Recipient, Carleton Alumnus to Lecture on The Crusades

 Jay Rubenstein, Carleton Class of 1989 and recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant,” will present a lecture entitled “Crusade and Aftermath: Living with a Holy War, 1095-1125” at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 in Leighton Hall, room 304, on the College campus. The lecture will be followed by a reception with refreshments in the History Department Lounge, located on the second floor of Leighton Hall. This event is free and the public is invited to attend.

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normal">A renowned medieval historian, Rubenstein’s presentation will analyze the First Crusade in the context of 12th-century apocalyptic thought, uncovering how themes of religious warfare—and the prophetic frenzies that drive them—continue to resonate in today’s world. Modern audiences will find similarities in how men and women in the 12th-century learned to live with a holy war that, once launched, seemed likely to never end.

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normal">In 2007, Rubenstein received a prestigious “genius grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Recipients of these $500,000 fellowships are selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future. Winners can use the money however they want. Rubenstein was cited for his “imaginative rendering of the historical record, paleographic skills, and elegant presentation of manuscript evidence, shedding valuable light on how violent events such as the First Crusade are recorded and remembered by future generations.”

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normal">Rubenstein’s publications include Guibert of Nogent: Portrait of a Medieval Mind (Routledge, 2003) and numerous articles published in peer-reviewed journals. He also edited, along with Sally Vaughn, Teaching and Learning in Northern Europe, 1000-1200 (Brepols, 2006).

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normal">Rubenstein is an associate professor of medieval history at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a member of the Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. After receiving his BA from Carleton College, he earned an MA from the University of Oxford, St. John’s College, and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.

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none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Georgia;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;color:#333333">Rubenstein’s appearance is being supported by the Carleton College Class of 1957 Revolving Lectureship Fund, established by the Class on the occasion of their 30th Reunion. For more information, contact the Department of History at (507) 222-4217.