Reinterpreting the Past in an Unprecedented Present: History and the Anthropocene

In this inaugural lecture of the 2025 Burns Lecture series, Professor Brad Gregory examines how historical interpretations can inform our understanding of the Anthropocene—the current geological age characterized by significant human impact on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems. He explores the role of historical narratives in shaping our perception of contemporary environmental challenges.

Professor Brad Gregory is the Henkels Family College Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. He is the author of several books including Rebel in the Ranks: Martin Luther, the Reformation, and the Conflicts That Continue to Shape Our World; The Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized Society; and Salvation at Stake: Christian Martyrdom in Early Modern Europe. He is currently working on a major project about the relationship between Western Christianity and the long-term formation of our current global environmental realities, the working title of which is The Way of the World: Power, Wealth, and Civilization from the Last Ice Age to the Anthropocene.

The event will be livestreamed – join the livestream by clicking the “Watch” button below.