Living off the Land
Agriculture in Wales c. 400–1600 AD
Rhiannon Comeau editor Andy Seaman editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Windgather Press
Published:25th Jul '19
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This is the first book for a generation on medieval agriculture in Wales, presenting evidence which is of considerable relevance to those studying the development of the early medieval landscapes of England and Ireland. This collection of essays confronts the paradox that, though agriculture lay at the heart of medieval society, understanding of what this meant for Wales remains limited. The papers address key questions that include: how did the agricultural systems of Wales operate between c. 400 and 1600 AD? What light do they cast on the material evidence for life in the contemporary landscape? How similar or different was Wales to other areas of Britain and Ireland? Can we identify change over time? How do we go about researching early Welsh agriculture?
These issues are explored through new syntheses and case studies focused on Wales, and contextualising overviews of medieval agricultural systems in Ireland and England written by leading experts. Themes covered include the use of infield-outfield systems, seasonal land use and its impact on territorial and estate structures, and regional variation, all explored using a wide array of complementary multidisciplinary approaches. The introduction, written by the editors Rhiannon Comeau and Andy Seaman, gives context to the historiography, key debates, themes and issues surrounding this topic. The book also includes an afterword written by Professor Andrew Fleming.
It is an important book which makes available timely and updated results as well as significant new insights into the practice and development of Welsh agriculture in the medieval period. It will provide a solid foundation for future studies, and is welcomed as a major contribution to the subject. * Archaeologia Cambrensis - Cambrian Archaeological Association *
[…] there is much that is of real substance, and being parochial, much that is relevant to Shropshire’s Welsh borderland. * Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological & Historical Society *
…a platform for more coherent, thematic research by deploying what is an excellent series of studies at various scales – local, regional and national – from 13 contributors. * Medieval Archaeology *
...represents a distinct advance on the work of previous generations of scholars, and it fulfils to a marked degree the editors' hope that it will provoke "further studies that challenge and overtake existing understanding". * The Medieval Review *
The papers in this volume will be accessible and engaging even to readers unfamiliar with Wales; the editors must be commended for ensuring a consistent pitch and a reasonable length … The glossary, which includes technical terms from medieval Welsh, will be helpful to many readers … and the lengthy bibliography is very useful. [T]his slim volume succeeds in being not only an informative overview of recent work but also an inspiration for future study. Anyone looking for a research topic on medieval rural landscapes would be well advised to explore the chapters of this book and take up the editors’ challenge: “Over to you, readers”. * Speculum - A Journal of Medieval Studies *
ISBN: 9781911188391
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
264 pages