Looking at the past to understand the future
SHOC (Social History of Capitalism) is one of the recognized Large Research Groups of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Our core objective is to study the social history of capitalism from a bottom-up point of view. We conceptualize capitalism as a social process that exponentially boosted material production but also generated structural inequalities throughout the medieval, early modern and modern world. We aim to engage with the interactions and negotiations which shaped these outcomes, incorporating non-human, technological, and subaltern perspectives. Considering different contexts across the world allows us to disentangle the relationship between specific social configurations and the effects of capitalist expansion on welfare, social relations, migration and the environment in the long run, from the late middle ages until the 20th century.
Recent news
Rachèl Spros obtains PhD
On Friday 15th of November, Rachèl Spros successfully obtained her PhD with a dissertation titled "Down the Ypres rabitt-hole: A multi-isotope analysis of a medieval urban population". During her PhD-research, she was a team member of project "Make-Up of the City". Supervised by Prof. Dr.
Introducing Foraging: a podcast in environmental humanities
Today, we are particularly proud to share with you that our FORAGENCY colleagues will be publishing a podcast series starting next week. This podcast stems from the ERC Starting Grant FORAGENCY. Foraging, Colonialism and More-than-Human Agency in Central Africa.
Charlotte Van Riet joins SHOC
Charlotte Van Riet joins the SHOC research group as a PhD researcher in November 2024. Awarded an FWO-fellowship, she will work on the medieval urbanisation in the Low Countries.
ALICE VITTORIA JOINS SHOC
From the 1st of November, Alice Vittoria will join SHOC. Alice is a social and environmental anthropologist. She has recently concluded her PhD in Social Anthropology at University College London.
Upcoming events
Practical info-"Sprekende Straten": on tour with SHOC
Imagine the vowels and cobblestones of Brussels whispering stories of times gone by... Walk with us through the heart of the city and listen to the echoes of the past.
Practical info-SHOC colleague Anne Winter gives lecture during study day ‘Migration and spatiality’
SHOC colleague Anne Winter gives a lecture entitled ‘migration and urban change in the 19th and 20th centuries’ during the study day ‘Migration and spatiality’.
Practical info-SHOC Seminar with Judy Stephenson (University College London)
"Wages before Machines: The microeconomics of solving the wage puzzle of the Industrial Revolution"
Practical info-International seminar: 200 years of wealth inequality
International seminar: 200 years of wealth inequality
