Carlo Ginzburg, an influential Italian historian renowned for his work on marginalized communities and his development of microhistory, has died at the age of 87. Ginzburg's scholarship was notable for its focus on detailed investigations of individuals and groups often overlooked in traditional historical narratives.

Born in 1939 in Turin, Ginzburg was the son of writer Natalia Ginzburg and anti-fascist activist Leone Ginzburg. His academic career was marked by a commitment to recovering the perspectives and experiences of those on the fringes of society. One of his earliest and most notable studies examined the Benandanti, a 16th and 17th-century fertility cult in northeast Italy whose members, regarded as shamanic healers, were persecuted by the Inquisition on charges of heresy.

In 1976, Ginzburg published "The Cheese and the Worm," a groundbreaking work that reconstructed the trial of Menocchio, a 16th-century miller accused of holding heterodox ideas about the origins of the world and religious doctrine. The book became a foundational text in microhistory, illustrating how the beliefs of a single individual could illuminate broader societal and cultural tensions.

Throughout his career, Ginzburg emphasized the value of examining small-scale, seemingly minor details to gain a deeper understanding of historical phenomena. In a 2023 interview, he suggested that the principles of microhistory could be applied beyond academia, encouraging people to engage empathetically and thoughtfully with others in daily life.

Ginzburg's contributions to the field of history have had a lasting impact, influencing scholars and reshaping the way history is studied and interpreted. He is survived by his two daughters, Silvia and Lisa.