English People and their Goods in the Later Middle Ages
Professor Chris Woolgar
Chris Woolgar is Emeritus Professor of History and Archival Studies at the University of Southampton. He has a long-standing interest in the history of the everyday. His books include works on the medieval great household, sensory perception and the culture of food, as well as editions of household account from later medieval England and testamentary records. He was editor of the Journal of Medieval History from 2009 to 2023.
About the event
There was a social revolution in England and elsewhere in Europe between 1200 and 1500 CE. In 1200, individuals had few goods and objects; by 1500, goods were everywhere. The study of this world of things is being reshaped by new approaches to the historical record, which contribute to our understanding of the objects themselves and their connections to medieval people. It offers us fresh perspectives on mentalities and daily lives amidst this growing material world, from textiles, clothing and furnishings, to cherished drinking vessels.