Food-growing gardens first appeared in Italian cities after the Fall of the Roman Empire. Roman cities had extensive suburban farms for agriculture and urban pleasure gardens. After c. 500, however, houses in cities increasingly had small food gardens attached to them, and these food-producing gardens quickly took on a critical role in city life both economically and socially. Observing changes in how people interacted with each other and their environments from the level of individual households to their neighbourhoods, and the wider countryside is possible by bringing together archival research of property documents and leases on parchments, and archaeological excavations including preserved plant remains. 

Following the presentation from Dr Goodson, there will be an opportunity to ask her questions.