Public Lecture: 'Chocolate: From the Mountains of Mexico to the Streets of York.'

We are delighted to welcome back to York Carole Levin (Nebraska) a former CREMS Visiting Fellow to deliver a public lecture to be held in the city centre at the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre.  

This lecture will discuss the history of chocolate, how it was valued by the Mayans and Aztecs, brought to Europe by the Spanish conquerors, and how it spread through Europe, eventually coming to England. Chocolate was not only a special treat but was thought to have a range of medicinal purposes. We will also see the forward thinking of some chocolate manufacturers who cared not only for the product but for those who produced it. And that will bring us right here to York. While it is certainly fun and may seem frivolous to talk about chocolate, examining the history of chocolate allows us to know more about cultural interactions and conquest, and issues of class and status in Europe. 

This is a public lecture and all are welcome. Light refreshments will be served from 5.00pm