Legions of Pigs in the Early Medieval West
Dolly Jørgensen
Over a millennium ago, images began to appear in Christian church settings—as decorations of holy book covers, within the pages books, and on walls—of Jesus exorcizing multitude demons, named Legion, from man into herd pigs who then rush sea drown. In using this biblical story frame narrative Legions Pigs Early Medieval West, Jamie Kreiner makes clear ambiguities pig as “both unholy redemptive, both historically situated universally relevant” (195). The Legion legion farm field are intertwined.Rather than approaching history only an issue agricultural production, examines it “a counterintuitive connections that developed between micro-universes husbandry early medieval institutions ideas wider scale” (4). She uses entry point for thinking through how people thought about their environment. Her approach is place social, cultural, economic contexts Late Antique periods, roughly AD 400 1000. While evidence focused Western Europe, particularly kingdoms Carolingians Ottonians, which occupied large parts what today France, Germany, Low Countries, northern Italy, British Isles, deftly weaves sources across stretching Islamic lands were continuous contact with counterparts.In her introduction, stresses flexibility resulted dynamic ecological systems Europe. Human communities adapted accommodate pigs, while potentially highly productive could also be unruly. This plays out chapter 1, underscores distinctions drew wild boar domestic pig, variability landscapes swine raised on, attempts control unwanted behaviors.The micro-universe set much larger context philosophy 2. chapter, scarcely appear—and yet puts its Christianization (which discussed later) intellectual age accessible explanation notions environmental connectivity complexity.Chapter 3 gets back landscapes. approaches extracting value landscape or, she calls it, “salvaging.” Through ability turn found foods environment food human tables, made people. How they did this—by forest foraging, pasture grazing, or stall feeding—varied according conditions. brings together impressive collection explain variability.In 4, focus assemblage humans social groups created modified by those relations. section swineherds particular gives fascinating behind-the-scenes look at status closest pigs. shows pork consumption was Roman tradition, had ideological practical implications, example provisioning soldiers taxes. Chapter 5 starts animal discusses became associated Christians, symbolic dietary forms. here, takes diabolical natures conviction. legions co-constituted.Kreiner's written non-medievalists mind—she elucidates time-specific legal terms so understandable without background period. finds just right balance source materials support arguments getting bogged down details. writing style delight read. demonstrates can culture wide appeal.
Agricultural History