Rate Professor Matthew Champion

Professional Summary: Professor Matthew Champion

Professor Matthew Champion is a distinguished historian and academic at the University of Melbourne, Australia. With a focus on medieval and early modern European history, he has made significant contributions to the understanding of temporality, emotions, and cultural history. His interdisciplinary approach bridges history, theology, and material culture, establishing him as a leading scholar in his field.

Academic Background and Degrees

Professor Champion holds advanced degrees in history, with a strong foundation in medieval studies. While specific details of his undergraduate education are not widely publicized, he earned his PhD in History, focusing on pre-modern European contexts. His academic training reflects a deep engagement with archival research and historiographical methodologies.

Research Specializations and Academic Interests

Professor Champion specializes in the history of medieval and early modern Europe, with particular emphasis on:

• The history of time and temporality
• Emotions and sensory experiences in historical contexts
• Religious and cultural history, including reform movements
• Material culture and the intersection of objects with human experience

His research often explores how individuals and communities in the past understood and experienced time, faith, and emotion, offering fresh perspectives on historical consciousness.

Career History and Appointments

Professor Champion has held several prestigious academic positions, reflecting his expertise and reputation in the field of history:

• Associate Professor of History, University of Melbourne, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies (current role)
• Previous academic appointments include positions at leading institutions such as Birkbeck, University of London, where he contributed to medieval and early modern studies programs

Major Awards, Fellowships, and Honors

Professor Champion’s scholarly excellence has been recognized through numerous awards and fellowships, including:

• Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship, supporting his innovative research on temporality in medieval Europe
• Recognition for his contributions to historical scholarship through various academic societies and institutions

Key Publications

Professor Champion has authored and edited several influential works that have shaped the study of medieval and early modern history. Notable publications include:

• ‘The Fullness of Time: Temporalities of the Fifteenth-Century Low Countries’ (2017) – A groundbreaking study of how time was perceived and structured in late medieval Europe, published by the University of Chicago Press
• Co-edited volume: ‘Cultural Histories of the Emotions’ (multiple volumes, ongoing series) – A collaborative project exploring emotional experiences across historical periods
• Numerous peer-reviewed articles in leading journals such as Past & Present and Speculum, focusing on temporality, religious reform, and sensory history

Influence and Impact on Academic Field

Professor Champion’s work has had a profound impact on the historiography of medieval and early modern Europe. His exploration of temporality has introduced new frameworks for understanding historical change, challenging traditional linear narratives of time. His interdisciplinary methods, combining textual analysis with material and emotional history, have inspired a new generation of scholars to rethink the boundaries of historical inquiry. His contributions to the study of emotions have also positioned him as a key figure in the growing field of the history of emotions.

Public Lectures, Committees, and Editorial Contributions

Professor Champion is actively engaged in the broader academic community through public lectures, editorial roles, and committee service:

• Regular speaker at international conferences and symposia on medieval history and the history of emotions
• Contributor to public history initiatives, delivering lectures that make complex historical concepts accessible to wider audiences
• Editorial board member and reviewer for prestigious historical journals and book series
• Active participant in academic networks such as the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions, fostering collaborative research