Naomi Makowska: Uncovering Forbidden Knowledge in Early Modern Italy
Dr. Makowska’s primary scholarship utilizes a microhistorical approach to study the lives of everyday women in Italy. Her doctoral dissertation explores how women in Modena, Italy, generated and circulated forms of "forbidden knowledge" between the years 1598 and 1658.
Beyond her research, Naomi Makowska is active in professional academic organizations. naomi makowska
Naomi Makowska has contributed to academic discourse through both publishing and presenting her research at international conferences.
Her focus on material culture—how objects, clothing, household goods, and other physical artifacts shape and reflect human experience—adds another crucial dimension to her work. Objects that appear in inquisitorial inventories, for instance, can reveal patterns of domestic life, economic status, and even religious practice that written documents alone might obscure. Beyond her research, Naomi Makowska is active in
Notably, other individuals with the Makowska surname have made significant marks in various fields, including (1893–1964), a celebrated Polish actress of Italian silent cinema, and Maria Makowska (born 1969), a Polish footballer and the most-capped player for the Poland women’s national team. While not directly related to Naomi Makowska, these historical bearers of the name illustrate the surname’s rich heritage across arts and public life.
A central thesis of Makowska's work is that despite Modena's pervasive culture of surveillance, non-elite women were not merely passive victims of inquisitorial systems. Instead, they actively generated a . Objects that appear in inquisitorial inventories
For fans looking to capture her essence, here is a practical guide:
Appointed as the incoming Website Administrator for the Society for the Study of Early Modern Women and Gender (SSEMWG) , beginning a three-year term in January 2026.
