Xinyi Wei is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Near Eastern Studies. Her research interests include slavery studies, gender studies, and global history. Her dissertation examines definitions and practices of slavery under the Mongol Empire (13^th-14^th centuries), in particular their manifestations in Iran and China. The project explores the parallels and intersections between slavery, concubinage, and marriage for subjects living under Mongol rule. Before coming to Princeton, Xinyi received her B.A. in History from New York University in Abu Dhabi, and M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago.