Drinking in the ancient, medieval, and early modern world

Alcoholic drinks played a vital role in premodern societies. People have gathered around drinks for centuries, conveying social meanings and creating cultural customs. The trade in beer, wine, and mead created economic opportunities for many. Although alcoholic drinks were important for nutrition, the economy, and social life, non-alcoholic drinks such as water and milk also carried various social and cultural meanings. During the early modern period, new non-alcoholic drinks like coffee, tea, and chocolate profoundly changed conceptions of intoxication and alcoholic beverages. You are what you drink—and who you drink with.

The call for papers is now open. Please submit your abstract by 3 July.

The workshop is organized by Dr. Jenni Lares, a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University, as part of her project “Sociability and Work in Early Modern Finnish Taverns,” funded by the Jalmari Finne Foundation, and in cooperation with Trivium – Tampere Centre for Classical, Medieval, and Early Modern Studies.