My name is Matteo Miele and I am a researcher, historian, and an early-stage programmer, working across Himalayan and South-East Asian studies, with a particular focus on Bhutanese political history, the presence of Parsis in South-East Asia, and the historical and cultural dynamics of the Northern Thai world (Lan Na). Within a broader vision of academic engagement — where disciplinary specialization coexists with comparative and cross-cultural perspectives — I cultivate a parallel interest in coding, both as a methodological tool to design digital environments for cataloguing, mapping, and analyzing historical sources, and as a creative medium to explore how digital humanities can reshape the practice of historical research. I am also deeply engaged with Disney Comics, especially in examining the representation of Asia in the works of Carl Barks and other authors, as a way to investigate cultural perceptions, stereotypes, and global imaginaries. Currently, I serve as an Associate Professor in Asian history and institutions at the University of Florence (Italy) and as an Affiliated Assistant Professor at the Center for South-East Asian Studies, Kyoto University (Japan). Between 2011 and 2012, I was a lecturer at Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan.
Beyond my academic profile, this site should be read as a repository: a working environment where research outputs, preprints, bibliographic notes, datasets, and digital experiments are collected side by side. Its aim is not only to present completed results but also to document ongoing processes, preliminary reflections, and cross-disciplinary connections. Some sections focus directly on Himalayan and South-East Asian history, while others explore digital tools or cultural questions through Disney Comics.
This site is under construction.
