The high and late Middle Ages saw a significant increase in demand for beeswax, a fundamental component of Christian devotion. In England the demand for beeswax was particularly acute, and the enormous quantities of wax candles needed for churches and religious foundations drove a wide-ranging international trade, while also encouraging extensive domestic beekeeping. This lecture will discuss why beeswax was needed and how it was acquired in England, from large monasteries to small parish churches.
Dr Alexandra Sapoznik is Senior Lecturer in Late Medieval History at King’s College London. Her research focuses on the relationships between economy, environment and culture in Britain and Euro...