Bees in the medieval economy: Religious observance and the production, trade, and consumption of wax in England, c.1300-1555

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bees in the medieval economy

T2 - Religious observance and the production, trade, and consumption of wax in England, c.1300-1555

AU - Sapoznik, Alexandra

PY - 2019/11

Y1 - 2019/11

N2 - The high and late middle ages saw a significant increase in demand for beeswax, a fundamental component of medieval Christian devotion, spurred by both changing socio‐economic conditions and shifts in religious practice. The vast quantities of wax needed for churches and religious foundations in England drove a thriving international trade spanning from the hinterland of Novgorod to the port of Lisbon, while at the same time encouraging widespread domestic beekeeping. This article considers the impact of supply‐side constraints and increasing demand on wax prices, calculating the cost and quantity of wax purchased by large foundations, parish churches, and individual offerings, to reveal the hitherto underexplored impact of religious consumption on the medieval economy.

AB - The high and late middle ages saw a significant increase in demand for beeswax, a fundamental component of medieval Christian devotion, spurred by both changing socio‐economic conditions and shifts in religious practice. The vast quantities of wax needed for churches and religious foundations in England drove a thriving international trade spanning from the hinterland of Novgorod to the port of Lisbon, while at the same time encouraging widespread domestic beekeeping. This article considers the impact of supply‐side constraints and increasing demand on wax prices, calculating the cost and quantity of wax purchased by large foundations, parish churches, and individual offerings, to reveal the hitherto underexplored impact of religious consumption on the medieval economy.

U2 - 10.1111/ehr.12740

DO - 10.1111/ehr.12740

M3 - Article

SN - 0013-0117

VL - 72

SP - 1152

EP - 1174

JO - ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW

JF - ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW

IS - 4

ER -