Michael Sommer studied Ancient History, Latin, Greek, Political Sciences, Modern History and Near Eastern Archaeology at the Universities of Freiburg, Basle, Bremen and Perugia. After taking his doctorate from the University of Freiburg, he spent two years as a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford. From 2005 to 2012, he was Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Liverpool.

Michael's research is concerned with the economic, social, mental and institutional history of the Roman Empire and the history of the Levant across the periods. He is currently preparing a book on ancient economies.

Michael's teaching focuses on understanding ancient civilisations through material culture and, more generally, on theories and methods of the historical and neighbouring disciplines.