The Medieval Pig
Published on 2. April 2024
Book
Hardback
130 pages
978-1-83765-142-9 (ISBN)
Description
Examines the role of the pig in medieval society in material and textual sources.
The pig was a common sight in the Middle Ages. They might be eating under an oak tree, or out in a field. They might be in the street, with the swineherd close behind at their heels. They might be dismembered, for sale by a butcher. They might be represented on misericords, in a church or cathedral, dancing, playing the bagpipes, or suckling people. Pigs were in all these places. But what was the pig's place?
This book considers pigs in medieval Europe from a number of angles: whether part of the countryside, the cityscape, on the plate or in the mind. Drawing on a rich wealth of sources, both textual and material, it examines in particular the paradoxes that the pig presented: both good and bad, fecund/fornicator, noble/filthy. It uncovers the pig's numerous roles in medieval society, how pigs shaped human life, and how humans shaped theirs.
The pig was a common sight in the Middle Ages. They might be eating under an oak tree, or out in a field. They might be in the street, with the swineherd close behind at their heels. They might be dismembered, for sale by a butcher. They might be represented on misericords, in a church or cathedral, dancing, playing the bagpipes, or suckling people. Pigs were in all these places. But what was the pig's place?
This book considers pigs in medieval Europe from a number of angles: whether part of the countryside, the cityscape, on the plate or in the mind. Drawing on a rich wealth of sources, both textual and material, it examines in particular the paradoxes that the pig presented: both good and bad, fecund/fornicator, noble/filthy. It uncovers the pig's numerous roles in medieval society, how pigs shaped human life, and how humans shaped theirs.
Reviews / Votes
The Medieval Pig is a dense volume, containing a wealth of information in a relatively small space. Dolly Jorgensen provides an easy-to-read, comprehensively researched snapshot into the world of the medieval pig between the years 500 and 1500 AD in western Europe. * H-ENVIRONMENT, H-NET REVIEWS * The book is full of interesting information drawn from Europe's rich documentary record. It has a good number of black and white images of illustrated manuscripts showing how people perceived the pig in various situations. * AGRICULTURAL HISTORY REVIEW *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodbridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
26 b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
367 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83765-142-9 (9781837651429)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
DOLLY JORGENSEN is Professor of History and Co-director of the Greenhouse Center for Environmental Humanities at University of Stavanger, Norway.
Content
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
1. Placing the Medieval Pig
2. In the Country
3. In the City
4. On the Plate
5. In the Mind
6. The Pig's Place
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements
1. Placing the Medieval Pig
2. In the Country
3. In the City
4. On the Plate
5. In the Mind
6. The Pig's Place
Bibliography
Index