This research seminar introduces into economic and social history as an interdisciplinary research field between history, economics and the social sciences. This term the focus will be on the history of work and education. We will explore historical determinants of current outcomes (such as the rise of knowlegde-based economic growth and the absence thereof for most of human history or the transformation of worklife that resulted from industrialization) and look at history as a repository of different human experiences in work and education (slavery, guilds, conceptions of 'work' and 'careers'). We will read, present and discuss representative examples of this strand of research; international researchers will attend some of the sessions and present their ongoing work for discussion and feedback.