Dr Alexandra Sapoznik: Beeswax in medieval England

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 Europe. She has published on topics including agriculture, technological innovation, food security, and standards of living. She previously led the project ‘Bees in the medieval world’ funded by the Leverhulme Trust and is currently Principal Investigator for ‘ECOMEDS: Economic and cultural connections within Mediterranean Ecosystems’, funded through the UKRI Horizon Europe Guarantee.