A Cultural History of Insects in the Medieval Age

A Cultural History of Insects in the Medieval Age covers the period from 500 to 1300, a time when the uses and value of insect products greatly increased. Silk, in particular, created economies and led to increased global trade; trade which, in turn, expanded the scope of insect-borne disease. The explosion in writing in the Middle Ages relied on inks, dyes, and waxes actively produced by insects or extracted from their crushed bodies. More visibly, insects began to teem across the pages of illuminated manuscripts, becoming symbols of divine order, earthly corruption, and ephemeral beauty.

The six-volume set of the Cultural History of Insects presents the first comprehensive history from antiquity to today of all forms and aspects of human-insect interaction. The themes covered in each volume are insect knowledge; insects and disease; insects and food; insect products; insects in mythology and religion; insects as symbols; insects in literature and language; and insects in art.