Classics and Classical Civilisation · Modern and Contemporary Studies

Contemporary Preppers in the Light of Ancient Apocalypticism

Due to popular media and recent events, preppers have entered the mainstream. In this blog post, Tim van Amersfoort seeks to understand how modern prepper visions concerning the apocalypse relate to the ideas of ancient Jewish and Christian apocalypticism.

Tim van Amersfoort • September 01, 2026

Modern and Contemporary Studies

Prophets with Guitars: How Folk Music Gave Voice to the Modern Apocalypse

What if the apocalypse had a soundtrack? Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan used folk music to turn revelation into protest and the end of the world into hope for a world remade. In their songs, the apocalypse is still alive: not in the form of a religious worldview, but in songs that imagine a new future.

Santiago García Sosa • 05-08-2026

Medieval and Early Modern Studies

The End in 112 Steps: Counting Down the Popes

The world was supposed to end after the 112th pope. Following Pope Francis’ death, an obscure prophecy attributed to Saint Malachy went viral once again. This post explores the prophecy’s origins, examines why scholars reject its authenticity, and asks why apocalyptic countdowns remain compelling.

Dante Aramideh • 02-07-2026

Modern and Contemporary Studies

Bricks Don’t Burn; on Bricks as Culture

What could a brick mean beyond construction? In this blog, Mitchell van Vuren traces the brick through architecture, property, revolt, and culture, tracing how an ordinary object can carry surprising social, political, and symbolic weight.

Mitchell van Vuren • 23-04-2026

Modern and Contemporary Studies

A Detention Room, a Desk, and the Micropolitics of Listening

In this entry, PhD candidate Marcos Cordova reflects on how a moment in his work as a school teacher brought him back to his dissertation’s framework. Drawing on Spinozist affect, he explores how small shifts in a scene shape capacity, recognition, and what feels possible to say.

Marcos Neto Cordova • 13-03-2026

Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Personae as a Historical Research Method

The writing of history is a continuous process. Speculative methods like personae can aid us in enriching our understanding of history with the stories of the peoples without history, and allow us to ask ourselves: “how was it then”?

Andrea Reyes Elizondo • 23-10-2025

Medieval and Early Modern Studies · Modern and Contemporary Studies

International Students in Leiden Across the Centuries

For centuries, international students have been key participants in Leiden’s scholarly community. This post is aimed at sharing some of the diverse international students who have participated in, and enriched, Leiden’s academic environment over the years.

Krista A. Milne • 08-04-2025