Alara Aygen

Alara is a master's student in Early Modern Intellectual History, specializing in the Italian Renaissance. She is particularly interested in cross-cultural research that examines the intellectual links between the Islamic Golden Age and Renaissance Italy. During her undergraduate study at UCLA, Alara explored a broad range of topics and completed her Honors Thesis on the Neoliberal Economic Model of the U.S. before discovering her true passion for the Early Modern and late Medieval periods. 

She is interested in exploring the early modern and medieval eras, as she believes the interplay between different cultures during these periods particularly through the exchange of ideas and knowledge, provides valuable insights into how intellectual currents can transcend borders and influence societies. Understanding these connections not only enriches our knowledge of history but also highlights the enduring impact of cross-cultural interactions on the development of ideas in art, science, philosophy, and politics.