Institute for Mediterranean Studies

Our Institute

Welcome to the website of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies!

The Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMS) – based in Rethymno, Crete – was founded in 1985 and is one of the 10 Institutes of the Foundation for Research and Technology — Hellas (FORTH), the leading research institution in Greece. IMS’s purpose is to promote research in the humanities, social sciences, as well as the application of science and technology on cultural heritage and the environment. It is distinguished for its research in history and culture and is the only research or university institution in the country to have been awarded nine ERC Grants (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024) ever awarded to the humanities in Greece.

The IMS research programs focus on the history and culture of Greece and other countries of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea in various historical periods, from prehistory to modern times. To date, its research focuses on three research axes, 1) Mediterranean History, 2) Mediterranean culture, 3) Geoinformatics technology for Culture and Environment, and is undertaken by eleven teams of researchers based in the Institution’s research sections, centers, and labs.

The objectives of the IMS are:

  • The planning, management, and undertaking of research work in the framework of Research, Technological Development and Innovation projects, by means of seeking and attracting financial resources from European, national, and private programs.
  • The production of publications in international academic journals, Greek and international academic publishing houses.
  • The organization of international and national conferences, symposia, seminars, and exhibitions, as well as the participation of its researchers in scientific and organizational committees of international conferences.
  • The organization of lectures by Greek and foreign academics, exhibitions, and other events, addressing both the scientific community and the general public.

Education

  • Participation in the organization of Postgraduate Programs in collaboration with Universities.
  • Participation in the supervision of research work and dissertations with the collaboration of Greek and foreign academic institutions.
  • Support of students in the form of internships.
  • Organization of educational seminars and summer schools.
Photo of IMS Director Gelina Harlaftis

Excellence, collegiality, mutual support, and a friendly academic environment distinguish the Institute for Mediterranean Studies.

Gelina Harlaftis
Director of IMS

Excellence at IMS

ERC
H2020
LIFE
HFRI
All

HISTORY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

CULTURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

GEOINFORMATICS FOR CULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Research Groups

Centre of Maritime History

The Сentre of Maritime History (CMH) of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies – founded in 2017 by Professor Gelina Harlaftis...

Centre of Art History "El Greco"

The "El Greco Center" of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies is the only center for scientific research in art history operating...

Department of History of Cities, Diaspora and Immigration in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea

The research teams of the Department of history of cities, diasporas and immigration in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea...

Department of History of Technology

The History of Technology Research Unit is dedicated to the study of the role of Technology and Science in Mediterranean...

Department of Linguistics

The Department of Linguistics of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies is the only research unit in Greece dedicated to studying...

Department of Mediterranean and Global Economic and Social History

The Research Group on Global and Mediterranean Economic and Social History studies the development, structure and transformations of the economies...

Department of Ottoman History

The Department of Ottoman History of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies is the only research unit in Greece exclusively dedicated...

Department of the Ancient and Byzantine World

The study of the ancient and medieval worlds at the Institute for Mediterranean Studies dates already to its foundation, with...

Department of Theatre Studies

The Department of Theatre Studies of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies is the first research program in Greece that that...

Laboratory of Geophysical - Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeo-environment

The Laboratory of Geophysics - Satellite Remote Sensing & Archaeoenvironment (GeoSat ReSeArch Lab) is active in the field of Geoinformatics,...

Laboratory of Image, Sound and Movement

The aim of the research team of the Laboratory of Image, Sound and Movement is to utilize the research findings,...

Upcoming Events

Lecture by the Department of Modern History of the Department of History & Archaeology of the University of Crete with title: Archaeology of the Ludlow Massacre and the Story of Louis Tikas…a Greek American Hero
Lecture by the Department of Modern History of the Department of History & Archaeology of the University of Crete with title: Archaeology of the Ludlow Massacre and the Story of Louis Tikas…a Greek American Hero

Lecture by the Department of Modern History of the Department of History & Archaeology of the University of Crete.

International Conference: Interpersonal Relations in Crisis in Greco-Roman Literature
International Conference: Interpersonal Relations in Crisis in Greco-Roman Literature

The present conference aims to study interpersonal relationships in crisis as they are portrayed in Greco-Roman literature. It is organised in the framework of the project LACRIMALit, IMS/FORTH, with the collaboration of the Postgraduate Programme in Classical Studies of the University of Crete. MA, PhD and early career researchers have been selected through a call for abstracts. They have the opportunity to present their research and to exchange ideas with the members of the LACRIMALit project, as well as with senior researchers who also participate in the conference. The conference focuses on the delineation of literary characters in the context of crisis, as they are presented in Greco-Roman literature.

Book Talk: "Island and Empire: How Civil War in Crete Mobilized the Ottoman World" by Uğur Zekeriya Peçe, Lehigh University
Book Talk: "Island and Empire: How Civil War in Crete Mobilized the Ottoman World" by Uğur Zekeriya Peçe, Lehigh University

Uğur Zekeriya Peçe is an Assistant Professor of History at Lehigh University. Drawing on Crete’s multilayered legacy of violence and tracing the Muslims displaced from the island because of civil war in the 1890s, this talk weaves together a story of intercommunal and environmental violence, European military intervention, displacement, and mass protest. Uğur Zekeriya Peçe explores the transformation of Muslim Cretans from silenced refugees in the 1890s to loud protesters after 1908, arguing that the islanders energized late Ottoman politics and society.