Anthony J. Barbieri is Professor of History and a leading Sinologist whose interdisciplinary scholarship integrates history, art history, archaeology, and literature. His landmark monographs and translations have encompassed the social, economic, legal, and material culture history of Early Imperial China (Qin and Han dynasties), alongside pioneering comparative studies that connect Early China with Ancient Egypt and Mediterranean antiquity. Additionally, his work investigates travel narratives in world history, underworld journeys, scribal culture, and the social lives of pre-modern artisans.
For Comparative Literature students, Professor Barbieri’s courses offer an enriching global perspective centered on primary text translation, comparative methodologies, and cultural transmission. His courses engage students through close readings of original source texts, historical simulations, and multimedia projects, providing students with a comprehensive, interdisciplinary foundation for examining ancient world literature, cross-cultural encounters, and comparative civilizations.