The Guardian view on the death of Carlo Ginzburg: a historian who taught us to think about outsiders
The work of one of Italy’s greatest scholars focused on ordinary lives oppressed by power and prejudice. That approach resonates today
TL;DR
- Carlo Ginzburg, an influential Italian historian, died at 87.
- His most famous work, "The Cheese and The Worms," explored the life of a 16th-century miller, Domenico Scandella (Menocchio), who was persecuted by the Roman Inquisition.
- Ginzburg's methodology involved reconstructing the lives of "the persecuted and the vanquished" from historical sources, inspired by "history from below" and the Annales school.
- His work influenced researchers focusing on women's history and oppressed minorities.
- Ginzburg also used his investigative methods to contest the conviction of Adriano Sofri.
- His commitment to victims of power stemmed from his own childhood experiences during the Nazi occupation of Italy.
- Ginzburg believed his work's focus on creating a "new world" resonates with contemporary challenges.
- His legacy encourages a deeper understanding of today's outsiders.