University of Crete launches history and archaeology lecture series in Rethymno

The Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Crete has commenced a new series of lectures titled “History and Archaeology Lectures in Rethymno.” Supported by the Region of Crete, the program is open to the public and will run across two academic semesters from October 2026 to May 2027.

The inaugural lecture, titled “Stories of Crete, 19th–20th Century: How Local is Local History?”, was delivered by Eleftheria Zei, Associate Professor of Modern History and Chair of the Department. The session, moderated by Paraskevas Matalas, explored the 19th and early 20th centuries, focusing on how Cretan local history intersects with the Greek national narrative and the island's distinct identity.

Throughout the series, faculty members will present topics spanning Minoan Crete, ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, and the modern history of the Balkans.