Dr. Paul Freedman

Biography

Paul Freedman specializes in medieval social history, focusing on the history of Catalonia, comparative studies of peasantry, the trade of luxury products, and the history of cuisine. His latest book, "Ten Restaurants That Changed America" (Liveright/Norton, 2016), explores the cultural significance of dining establishments in American history. Freedman's earlier works include "Diocese of Vic: Tradition and Regeneration in Medieval Catalonia" (1983) and "Origins of Peasant Servitude in Medieval Catalonia" (1991), and he has contributed to various scholarly collections including essays on the Church, Law, and Society in Catalonia from 900-1500. He is a fellow of the Medieval Academy of America and a corresponding fellow of the Real Academia de Buenas Letras de Barcelona and the Institut d'Estudis Catalans. Additionally, Freedman is a member of the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research has received multiple honors, including the cookbook award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals in 2008 for "Food: A History of Taste," and the Haskins Medal from the Medieval Academy for his work on "Images of the Medieval Peasant" (2002). Furthermore, he has been honored with the Otto Gründler Prize from the Medieval Institute at Western Michigan University in 2001 and the Eugene Kayden Award for Humanities from the University of Colorado. In 1992, he was awarded the Premio del Rey Prize by the American Historical Association for his publication on medieval peasantry.

Research Interests