Dec 01 2023 60 mins
Behind each political border is a story. Why does this river or that mountain range divide two countries? Why do some borders seem to run willy-nilly through deserts, cutting communities in two? Behind these questions are tales of conquest, migration and ultimately power.
Matt Ellis (Williams '03) has spent years studying these questions in the Middle East. Professor Ellis is Chair of Middle Eastern & International Affairs at Sarah Lawrence College. In his book, "Desert Borderland," Professor Ellis investigates the historical processes that transformed political identity in Egypt and Libya prior to World War I.
In 2018, we welcomed Professor Ellis to the Williams Club to talk about “Desert Borderland” with Magnus Bernhardsson, Williams College Professor of History and Chair of Global Studies.
Established in 1913, the Williams Club is an alumni club in mid-town Manhattan with membership open to alumni, family, undergrads, faculty & staff of 35 affiliate institutions, including all of the schools in the NESCAC conference. Visit williamsclub.org to learn more and become a member.
Event Producer: Dale Riehl (Williams '72)
Podcast Producer: Jon Earle (Williams ’09)
Special thanks: Joe Mastracchio (Williams ‘10), Jaskaran Singh (Williams '25)