Institute for Mediterranean Studies

Centre of Maritime History

The Сentre of Maritime History (CMH) of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies – founded in 2017 by Professor Gelina Harlaftis and Dr Apostolos Delis – is the only research unit in Greece exclusively dedicated.
The research team of the Centre of Maritime History explores the history of the seas and more specifically focuses on the maritime history of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea from the ancient times to the present day. The Centre of Maritime History provides the resources for the training of young scholars and the production of academic work in the following broader fields:  a) economic and social maritime activities (seaborne trade, navigation, ports, shipping businesses, fishing, maritime communities, maritime labour, shipbuilding and maritime technology); b) geopolitics, war and violence at sea (maritime empires, naval forces, piracy); c) scientific activities related to the sea (oceanography, history of navigation); d) leisure and tourism related to the sea, e) maritime literature and arts. The means to promote these activities are through: 1) the location, preservation, classification, processing and divulgation of archival sources related to maritime history, 2) the publication of scholarly works in Greece and abroad, 3) the organization of seminars, conferences and postgraduate studies programs in collaboration with Greek and foreign universities and summer schools. Furthermore, the Centre of Maritime History materializes research projects funded from National and European funds and carries out research in Greek and foreign archives and libraries. The activities of the Centre of Maritime History are supported by the specialized maritime history library and archives of the Institute for Mediterranean Studies/FORTH.

People

Gelina Harlaftis

Gelina Harlaftis

Director of IMS-FORTH, Professor of Maritime History
Curriculum vitae
Apostolos Delis

Apostolos Delis

Principal Researcher
Curriculum vitae
Jordi Ibarz Gelabert

Jordi Ibarz Gelabert

Visiting professor
University of Barcelona
Maria Damilakou

Maria Damilakou

Assistant Professor
Ionian University
Matteo Barbano

Matteo Barbano

Postdoctoral researcher
Curriculum vitae
Kostas Damianidis

Kostas Damianidis

Postdoctoral researcher
Curriculum vitae
Katerina Galani

Katerina Galani

Postdoctoral researcher
Curriculum vitae
Aristea Gratsea

Aristea Gratsea

Postdoctoral researcher
Curriculum vitae
Ekin Mahmuzlu

Ekin Mahmuzlu

Postdoctoral researcher
Alexandra Papadopoulou

Alexandra Papadopoulou

Postdoctoral researcher
Curriculum vitae
Anna Sydorenko

Anna Sydorenko

Postdoctoral researcher
Curriculum vitae
Kalliopi Vasilaki

Kalliopi Vasilaki

Postdoctoral researcher
Curriculum vitae
Angelos Drougoutis

Angelos Drougoutis

Ph.D. candidate
University of Crete
Curriculum vitae
Thomas Kalesios

Thomas Kalesios

Ph.D. candidate
Alkis Kapokakis

Alkis Kapokakis

Ph.D. candidate
Dimitra Kardakaris

Dimitra Kardakaris

Ph.D. candidate
Petros Kastrinakis

Petros Kastrinakis

Ph.D. candidate
Thanasis Nasiaras

Thanasis Nasiaras

Ph.D. candidate
Amalia Pappa

Amalia Pappa

Deputy Director of the General State Archives
Michaela Stergiopoulou

Michaela Stergiopoulou

Postgraduate Translator-Interpreter
Ionian University

Alumni

  • Christos Tsakas
  • Konstantinos Chalimourdas
  • Konstantinos Chatzopoulos
  • Joyce Goggin
  • Nikos Kastrinakis

Research Projects

Onassis Business History

Onassis Business History

The purpose of the research project is to create a private Onassis Business Archive as well as publish a volume on Onassis Business History, based on the Onassis Archive material.

BLACK SEA

History of the Black Sea, 18th-20th centuries

The aim of the project was the identification, analysis and synthesis of the economic and social develοpment of 20 port-cities of the Black Sea that formed an integrated market that became the larger grain-exporting area in the world in the second half of the nineteenth century until the beginning of the twentieth century.

STASH

Shadow Trade: Unraveling Maritime Smuggling Between the Russian and Ottoman Empires (1853-1914)

ERC

Principal Investigator: Anna (Ganna) Sydorenko
Funding body: European Research Council (Starting Grant 2024, Project ID 101166144)
Start date: 1 December 2024, End date: 30 November 2029
Total Budget: € 1,490,250
Host Institution: IMS-FORTH

HistOIL

Oil, but Not Olive Oil: How Petroleum Products Became Greece's Top Exports

Principal Investigator: Christos Tsakas
Collaborating Institutions: Institute for Mediterranean Studies

Shipping and trade in Venetian Crete

Shipping and trade in Venetian Crete; The case study of Curcumeli’s company (16th century)

Funded by: Hellenic Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies/ Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs
Host Institution: IMS/FORTH

VHSS

Virtual Historic Sailing Ships

Promoting the maritime cultural heritage with the development of an integrated platform of 3D digital representations of historical ships.