KNIR Research Profile

Rome in the world and the world in Rome

For centuries, Rome has presented itself as the centre of the world. The city and the Vatican have, over millennia, developed into a political, religious and cultural centre of region, nation, Méditerranée, empire, church and world. This has resulted in an exceptional wealth of institutions, archives, museums and collections. Contemporary Rome has thus grown into a global information hub.

Research at KNIR focuses on this dynamic and on the many meanings of Rome as a centre. Our research is always connected to Rome: either as an object of study or as a source of knowledge about other parts of the world. From the overarching concept Rome in the world and the world in Rome, we shape our research profile.

Our projects are mono-, multi- and interdisciplinary. They cover the period from the expanding Roman Empire in Antiquity to contemporary Cinecittà, and depart from the classical KNIR focus areas: Ancient Studies, History and Art History. At the same time, we explicitly look beyond Italy, the Netherlands and Europe. The world in relation to Rome is our field of activity.

We study both material culture — from archaeological finds and monuments to works of art, museum collections and archives — and the history of ideas and reception in philosophy, iconography, literature, religion and film. The interaction between these domains is central.

KNIR stimulates reflection on existing disciplines and perspectives, and welcomes new methods and approaches that move beyond Romano- and Eurocentric frameworks. In this way, we strengthen the international and interdisciplinary character of the institute and connect an ever broader network of researchers and fields. This leads to innovative research that enriches our traditional areas of interest with new perspectives and methods.