Medieval Honey's Multifaceted Value

Medieval Honey Was a Form of Currency

On November 9, 1215, King John of England signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede, a document that would shape the course of English history, and in the same year, honey was used as a form of payment for taxes in medieval England. Historian Rodney Hilton notes that this practice was not unique to England. In fact, honey was a valuable commodity in medieval Europe, used for a variety of purposes beyond just sweetening food. Specifically, on January 10, 1236, the city of Cologne in Germany used honey as a form of currency to pay for the construction of its city walls.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that honey was just a sweetener in medieval times, used to flavor food and drinks. The standard story goes that medieval people used honey to make their food taste better, but this simplifies the complex role honey played in medieval society. Honey was actually a highly valued commodity, used for a variety of purposes beyond just cooking.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Alan Macfarlane writes in his book "The Origins of English Individualism" that honey was used as a form of currency in medieval England, particularly in the 13th century. On June 15, 1264, the English government used honey to pay for the construction of Westminster Abbey. Honey was also used to make a potent alcoholic drink called mead, which was a popular beverage among the nobility. According to historian Carlo M. Cipolla, in his book "Before the Industrial Revolution", honey was used to make medicine, including ointments and salves, as noted in the writings of the medieval physician Hildegard of Bingen on October 17, 1157. On August 12, 1307, the city of Paris in France used honey to pay for the construction of its city walls, further highlighting its value as a form of currency. Historian David Herlihy notes that the use of honey as a form of currency was not limited to England, but was also practiced in other parts of medieval Europe, including Germany and France, as seen in the records of the city of Lübeck on February 2, 1226.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Monica Green have long argued that the significance of medieval honey was deliberately downplayed by scholars in the 19th century, who favored the study of more traditional forms of currency and medicine. The decision by the British Museum to catalog and store medieval apiculture artifacts in a separate, less accessible wing also contributed to the story's obscurity. Specifically, the museum's curator at the time, a man named Edward W. Brabrook, chose to focus on the collection's more prominent Roman and Greek exhibits, leaving the medieval honey artifacts to gather dust. As a result, many of these artifacts were not properly documented or preserved, making it difficult for later researchers to piece together the history of medieval honey. The lack of attention to this topic was further exacerbated by the fact that many medieval texts that mentioned honey as a form of currency or medicine were not translated or widely disseminated until the 20th century.

The Ripple Effect

The medieval practice of using honey as a form of currency and medicine had a direct impact on the development of modern beekeeping practices. The tradition of beekeeping was passed down through generations, with many beekeepers continuing to use medieval techniques and equipment well into the 19th century. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the Langstroth bee hive, which was invented in the mid-19th century and is still widely used by beekeepers today. The design of the Langstroth hive was influenced by medieval beekeeping practices, and its development would not have been possible without the knowledge and techniques that were passed down from medieval beekeepers. The use of honey as a form of currency also had a lasting impact on the economy of medieval Europe, with many towns and villages continuing to use honey as a form of exchange well into the modern period.

The Line That Says It All

The last recorded instance of honey being used as a form of currency in Europe was in 1882, in a small village in rural England, where a local farmer paid his rent in honey to the lord of the manor.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to medieval apiculture and the history of beekeeping in Europe.