06/17/2026
It is with deep sorrow that we take notice of the passing of Carlo Ginzburg (1939–2026), one of the most influential historians of our time. Best known for The Cheese and the Worms (1976), Ginzburg transformed the field by bringing attention to the lives and ideas of ordinary people—like the miller Domenico Scandella, known worldwide as Menocchio—who challenged dominant power structures. His work gave voice to those long excluded from historical narratives and introduced generations of scholars to the “evidential paradigm,” a method used to read traces and clues like detectives do: with attention, rigor, and imagination.
At Texas State, Ginzburg’s legacy lives on through faculty whose research reflects his microhistorical approach. Dr. José Carlos de la Puente, Dr. Jessica Pliley, Dr. Sara Damiano, and Dr. Joaquín Rivaya‑Martínez each explore overlooked voices in history, demonstrating how small, fragmentary stories can illuminate broader social forces.
Have you read Carlo Ginzburg’s work? How has it shaped the way you think about history?
https://apnews.com/article/italy-carlo-ginzburg-dead-micro-history-pisa-9c9581431ddc06b730e65a891349fbce
