Book ID: CBB001420355

Landscape and Change in Early Medieval Italy: Chestnuts, Economy, and Culture (2013)

unapi

Squatriti, Paolo (Author)


Cambridge University Press


Publication Date: 2013
Physical Details: xiii + 236 pp.; ill.; maps; bibl.; index
Language: English

This innovative environmental history of the long-lived European chestnut tree and its woods offers valuable new perspectives on the human transition from the Roman to the medieval world in Italy. Integrating evidence from botanical and literary sources, individual charters and case studies of specific communities, the book traces fluctuations in the size and location of Italian chestnut woods to expose how early medieval societies changed their land use between the fourth and eleventh centuries, and in the process changed themselves. As the chestnut tree gained popularity in late antiquity and became a valuable commodity by the end of the first millennium, this study brings to life the economic and cultural transition from a Roman Italy of cities, agricultural surpluses and markets to a medieval Italy of villages and subsistence farming. Shows how people and plants interacted to create historical outcomes, highlighting the constraints on human agency Offers an environmental perspective on the fall of Rome, allowing a reconceptualisation of how empires change over time Blends scientific and cultural information about historical processes

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Reviewed By

Review Knoll, Paul W. (2014) Review of "Landscape and Change in Early Medieval Italy: Chestnuts, Economy, and Culture". Environmental History (pp. 580-581). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001420355/

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Authors & Contributors
Paolo de Vingo
Armiero, Marco
Alfonso De Nardo
Farinelli, Roberto
Santinucci, Giovanna
James Sievert
Concepts
Environmental history
Landscape; landscapes
Forests and forestry
Trees
Agriculture
Earth sciences
Time Periods
Ancient
Medieval
20th century
19th century
Early modern
Renaissance
Places
Italy
Rome (Italy)
Europe
Piedmont
Apennines
Nile River
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