Author Andrea Wulf presents her new book The Traveller: Georg Forster and the Discovery of Humanity. The event takes place on 30 September 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Natural History Museum Mainz. The lecture explores the life and work of the naturalist, travel writer, and Enlightenment thinker Georg Forster.

Public Event: Panel Discussion “Is a Biodiverse Society Possible?!”

As part of the conference “Life in Diversity: Vision and Practice of a Biodiverse Society,” a panel discussion on the topic “Is a Biodiverse Society Possible?!” will take place on October 1, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

Apply Now: IEG Fellowships for Postdocs

The next round of applications for Postdocs started: researchers with projects in European history from early modern to contemporary history can apply until 15 October 2026 for an IEG Fellowship.

Further information: Fellowships for Postdocs – Leibniz-Institut für Europäische Geschichte (IEG)

Newest publication: Sammeln, Messen, Vergleichen: Schädel, ›Rasse‹ und die Ordnung der Welt in der deutschen, US-amerikanischen und französischen Anthropologie (1780-1880)

In her newly published global microstudy, historian Malin Wilckens examines the question of which practices led to the anthropological “race” theories of comparative anatomy in Europe and the United States during the transition from the 18th to the 19th century.

For further information see: Neuerscheinung: Sammeln, Messen, Vergleichen.

Newest publication: Gelebtes Europa. Die innereuropäischen Beziehungen der altkatholischen Kirchen der Utrechter Union
1945 bis 1989

In her study, Ruth Nientiedt shows that church networks also contributed to Europe’s cross-border integration.

For further information see: Neuerscheinung: Gelebtes Europa.

 

Epochal – Podcast from the Leibniz Institute of European History

Listen here to the second episode.

Latest newsshow all

23.09.2026

Welcome Christian Windler!

We warmly welcome Professor Emeritus Christian Windler from the Universität Bern at the IEG.  During his stay he will conduct research on his project “Catholic Clergy in the Making of...
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21.09.2026

Hasan Nuhanović in an Interview with the Frankfurter Rundschau

The eyewitness talk with Hasan Nuhanović continues to resonate: During his visit to the IEG last week, Michael Hesse of the Frankfurter Rundschau spoke with the Srebrenica genocide survivor about...
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01.09.2026

Welcome Katharina Kunter!

Porträt von Katharina Kunter
We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Katharina Kunter from the University of Helsinki as a Senior Research Fellow at the IEG.
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Events show all

book presentation

Lecture By Author Andrea Wulf: The Traveller: Georg Foster and the Discovery of Humanity

30.09.2026
18:30 Uhr
To mark the publication of her new book on Georg Forster, Andrea Wulf will give a lecture at the Natural History Museum Mainz. Georg Forster (1754–1794) was a naturalist, travel...
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Public Research Colloquium with Prof. Dr. Katharina Kunter

06.10.2026
16:00 Uhr
Porträt von Katharina Kunter
The IEG cordially invites you to participate online in the public research colloquium with Prof. Dr. Katharina Kunter.
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SocietyDiscussion

Panel Discussion – Talking About Europe: “Is There a European Public Sphere? Perspectives from Academia and Journalism”

22.10.2026
18:30 Uhr
Is There a European Public Sphere?

A closer look reveals that the media in which we talk about Europe are still predominantly organised along national lines. Transnational outlets such as ARTE or Euronews remain niche phenomena.

What does it mean for Europe if Europeans know too little about one another?
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Research Agenda

“Society”, “religion” together with “digitality” – and, in perspective, “environment” – form the principal foci of the IEG’s research. The connection between these areas is maintained above all by the Europe Forum.
Research group "Society"
Research group "Religion"
Research group "Digitality"
Europe forum

Fellowship and Guest ProgrammeFellowship and Guest Programme

The Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) awards fellowships to doctoral students and postdocs from Germany and abroad for research projects on European religious, political, social, and cultural history, as well as in the field of digital humanities.

IEG Fellowship Programme

The Senior Research Fellowship Programme invites distinguished international scholars to the IEG. The Institute also welcomes externally-funded or self-funded researchers at all career levels.

Guest Programme

05.08.2026
IEG Fellowship Programme

IEG Fellowships for Postdocs

Application deadline: 15.10.2026
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AnnouncementsHome

The Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) in Mainz is an independent research institute within the Leibniz Association.

It conducts and supports research on European history from the early modern period to the contemporary era and is actively involved in the advancement of the digital humanities.

The Institute is committed to promoting gender equality in the workplace, to diversity, and to facilitating the reconciliation of professional and family life.

Publications of the IEGalle anzeigen

Ruth Nientiedt
ReligionSociety

Gelebtes Europa

Die innereuropäischen Beziehungen der altkatholischen Kirchen der Utrechter Union 1945 bis 1989
Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Europäische Geschichte, Mainz, 276
Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,2026
ISBN: 978-3-525-31180-6

Wie gestaltete sich das innereuropäische Miteinander der altkatholischen Kirchen der Utrechter Union nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg? Die Studie erschließt kirchliche Quellen als Zugang zur zivilgesellschaftlichen europäischen Integration und zeigt gleichzeitig den Mehrwert interdisziplinärer Perspektiven für die Kirchengeschichte auf. Schwerpunkte der Untersuchung sind die Kontakte in die Tschechoslowakei, sowie die internationale Frauen- und Jugendarbeit. Denn die innereuropäische Vernetzung geschah auf allen Ebenen des kirchlichen Handelns. Die Themen und Anliegen des Austauschs reichten von ökumenischen Fragen, über das Selbstverständnis der Utrechter Union und die Rolle der Frauen in der Pastoral bis zum Skifahren in den Alpen und dem Segeln auf dem Ijsselmeer. Dahinter stand die Überzeugung, dass die Kirchen zur Zusammenarbeit berufen sind und dass diese dem Frieden in Europa und der Welt dient.

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Society

Baťas Menschen

Rationalisierung, social engineering und Differenzierung in der tschechoslowakischen Unternehmensstadt Zlín, 1918–1948
Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Europäische Geschichte, Mainz, 275
Gregor Feindt
Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,2026
ISBN: 978-3-525-37109-1
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Religion

Religious Transformations in Europe

Individual Life Paths between Secularism and (New) Religiosity in the 19th Century
Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Europäische Geschichte, Mainz: Beihefte, 144
Cristiana Facchini (ed.)Alessandro Grazi (ed.)
Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,2025
ISBN: 978-3-525-57148-4
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Society

Revolutionäre Familien

Die transatlantischen Leben der "Achtundvierziger / Forty-Eighters", 1848/49–1914
Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Europäische Geschichte, Mainz, 274
Sarah Panter
Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,2025
ISBN: 978-3-525-31166-0
Awarded the Wolf-Erich-Kellner-Prize 2025
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Zwischen Heimatfront und Schlachtfeld

"Kriegsbilder" in protestantischen Predigten und Andachtsschriften des Ersten Weltkriegs
Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Europäische Geschichte, Mainz, 273
Andrea Hofmann
Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,2025
ISBN: 978-3-525-31162-2
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IEG blog "Writing European History"

The blog "Writing European History" presents the historical research conducted at the Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) in Mainz. The researchers and guests of the Institute present their research topics and results in various sections, including interviews, reports, new publications, commentaries, and the "Research in Focus" series, which presents current research at the IEG.
The editorial team hopes you enjoy exploring the various topics!

Visit the blog