Living off the Land | Agriculture in Wales c. 400 - 1600 AD

ISBN: 9781911188391

Publication Date: 31 October 2019

Publisher: Windgather Press, Oxford

Edited by Rhiannon Comeau, Andy Seaman

Format: Paperback, 247x186 mm, 264 pages

Language: English

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 Britain and Ireland. Many illustrations and maps.

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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? 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. Welsh law s provisions relating to agriculture receive specific consideration. The introduction, written by the editors Rhiannon Comeau and Andy Seaman, gives context to the historiography, key debates, themes and issues surrounding the topic. Contributors include both established authorities and newer scholars: David Austin, Rhiannon Comeau, Tudur Davies, Andrew Fleming, Della Hooke, Thomas R. Kerr, Meriel McClatchie, Finbar McCormick, Aidan O Sullivan, Stephen Rippon, Sara Elin Roberts, Andy Seaman and Bob Silvester. The book includes a glossary of terms and a bibliography of key Welsh work.