Pigs in the Flesh and Fisc: An Early Medieval Ecology*
Jamie Kreiner
We are accustomed to think of livestock as commodities, and an extent this mirrors early medieval attitudes, too. But the Merovingians their subjects also saw that animals they raised, pigs most all, were not simply instrumental human economies. They capable interfering with physical social environments through which moved moved. Pigs only nonhuman force humans identified consequential own interests, but struck them especially ingenious. These in particular inspired owners caretakers notice unusual properties certain kinds property, order use profitably, accommodated without ever completely mastering them. The surprising result accommodation was had a demonstrable effect on Merovingian economic culture — way crown its evaluated resources formally informally manipulated Because policymakers alert pigs’ dexterous approach powerful unpredictable environments, handled taxes, coinage, land, political investments similar flexibility: deliberately adjusted fiscal strategies, definitions profit itself, response circumstances. It is argument essay society developed practice ethics administration should be characterized ecological, important influence upon development ubiquitous, instructive pig.
Past & Present