Scholar at the Top of his Game
As a specialist in the Hellenistic Era, Professor Edward M. Anson has been a true wavemaker in the field of ancient history for the past 30 years. His focus on the impact of ethnic identity and the foundations of political power has led him to publish 22 articles and book chapters in his 22 years at UALR.
All of Dr. Anson’s scholarly work established the foundation for his recent book Eumenes of Cardia: A Greek among Macedonians, which challenges traditional interpretations of ethnicity and identity in the Hellenistic Age. He has appeared three times at the International Conference of European History in Athens and has given papers on Alexander the Great at major international historical conferences.
“Much of my recent work focuses on the role of language in ethnicity, which has implications in our modern times,” Dr. Anson said. “Language is the criteria that mattered for determining ethnicity for the Greeks. Those from other areas become indistinguishable from native Greeks, and that brings us to the question of what makes a Greek a Greek?”
For Dr. Anson, scholarship and teaching go hand in hand. Professors, he believes, can excel in both areas and students benefit from that integration of tasks. With a reputation for excellence in research that is second to none in his area of specialty, Dr. Anson’s investigations have been said to have incredible clarity, finesse, and depth. He also presents his ideas for readers or listeners in a comprehensible and accessible manner.
Dr. Anson earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Drake University and finished his doctoral work at the University of Virginia. He has served as chair of the UALR Department of History and as president of the University Assembly.