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3 years ago in History , Material Culture By Nisha Ali
Are there studies on the production and consumption of sweets in Early Modern Europe?
I'm piecing together a chapter on non-essential foodstuffs and their role in shaping social rituals. Understanding the supply chain from refined sugar to finished marzipan—and who was actually eating these goods feels crucial. It sits at the intersection of economic history and cultural practice, and I want to ensure I'm engaging with the foundational works in this niche.
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By Charlessom Answered 1 year ago
This is a fantastic area where economic and cultural history deliciously converge. I would recommend starting with the seminal work of Sidney Mintz in Sweetness and Power, though its scope is broader. For a focused European lens, look to the essays in Food and Faith in Christian Culture edited by Albala & Eden, which has excellent chapters on sugar and piety. For material production, I've found archival records from guilds of confiseurs in cities like Paris or Venice to be invaluable for tracing the professionalization of sweet-making. Don't neglect probate inventories; they reveal startling details about the diffusion of sugar bowls and sweets into middle-class homes, showing how a luxury became a mundane commodity.
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