Call for papers for the international workshop

We are excited to announce the “The consuming countryside” -workshop, which will take place at 15-16 December 2023 at the University of Antwerp. We will discuss one of the most striking paradoxes of the late early modern period: how did rural households of almost all social strata improve their material living standards and increase their consumption, while real wages and agricultural productivity during the same period declined, and the real cost of primary agricultural goods increased?

To this end, an international workshop is organized at the University of Antwerp. We will welcome research papers that offer new empirical evidence, prove methodologically innovative, and/or offer fresh interpretations. Our focus is on the development of the less researched European periphery, next to new research on the core regions of southern England and the Low Countries, as well as any areas outside of Europe. We especially extend an invitation to researchers and PhD candidates interested in early modern rural living standards and economic development.

Keynote lecture: Craig Muldrew (University of Cambridge)

Scientific committee: Christine Fertig (Universität Munster), Janine Maegraith (Universität Vien), Ulrich Pfister (Universität Münster), Johan Poukens (State Archives Belgium & University of Antwerp), Tim Soens (University of Antwerp).

If you are interested in participating, we invite you to send a 300 to 500-word abstract with your affiliation, a short CV and contact details to Kim.Overlaet@uantwerpen.be. The deadline for submission is September 15th 2023. For more information on the workshop, please contact Henning.Bovenkerk@uantwerpen.be

More details and information are in the call for papers