Nature, Economy, and Medieval Environmental History

Steven Epstein, a well-established voice in medieval social and economic history, will comment on the ways that Hoffmann addresses the later middle ages (that is the era after 1000) and so will balance the response of Squatriti.  In his published work he has looked at the intersection of socio-economic patterns with cultural, intellectual, and religious developments of the era. Based in part on the case studies that he has developed and pursued in his own recent monograph, Epstein’s commentary will respond to the ways that Hoffmann understands society and economy interacting as a part of ecosystems. He will also be able to challenge Hoffmann’s approach to explaining how ideas become part of environmental history through work and energy exchange.  The understanding of owning nature and the evolution of medieval Christians’ concept of the relationship of God, humans and nature are topics Hoffmann deals with in his book.  Epstein is especially well equipped to discuss those issues as well as to respond to how Hoffmann treats the mid fourteenth century shock of the Black Death and the late fifteenth century shock of new plants and diseases from exchange with the newly visited New World.