2019 Eric Hobsbawm Memorial Lecture
We are delighted to announce that this year's Eric Hobsbawm Memorial Lecture will be given by Professor Chris Wickham
The lecture, How did feudalism work? The economic logic of medieval societies, will take place in Birkbeck's Clore Lecture Theatre on 14 May.
Eric Hobsbawm was not very interested in medieval history, but he did edit and comment on Marx’s own thoughts on how ‘feudal’ economies worked. How do these stand up today? Do we have now to assume that medieval economies simply worked like capitalist ones in their basic rhythms, only less well? This lecture will look at alternative ways of understanding the economic logic which prevailed in the medieval period, and how its dynamic may have worked as well, on the basis of recent work on the Mediterranean, north-west Europe, and further afield.
A drinks reception will follow the lecture, which will start at 6pm. Attendance is free but booking is required.
For more information and to book your place, visit: