Right now, we are visiting the town of Fontecchio and others nearby in the Abruzzo region of Italy. There is a lot of history here, and it’s been great to learn about this area. The most recent topic we’ve covered was discussed in an article we read about farming and agriculture in the Mediterranean, particularly in Italy during medieval times.
During this time, agriculture and the pastoral industry (raising livestock) were extremely important. However, in mountainous regions, it was difficult. The growth of plants and crops was inhibited by cold weather, and seasonal migration of livestock was required when summer drought forced them to move. Environmental constraints weren’t the only factors. Pastoralism is also impacted by social, economic, and political changes.
However, people were still able to develop the agricultural industry despite these challenges. One example is with the environment. Natural grassland for livestock is relatively rare, since there are limits of what types of vegetation can grow depending on altitude. Even if altitude isn’t an issue, there are also areas with limestone and marble rock which limits the formation of suitable soils. However, people were able to get around this by lowering treelines, which helped develop artificial meadows. These changes are generally attributed to how pastoralism became organized during medieval times.
Overall, the emergence and organization of pastoralism is greatly associated with historical change – whether it’s social, economic, political, or due to the environmental conditions of the area. These factors can set limits on or help spur future development, and they continue to impact the industry today.
No comments:
Post a Comment