Shortage and Famine in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon
By Adam Franklin-Lyons
The Pennsylvania State University Press
ISBN: 9780271091747
Food security was a major concern for any medieval society. This book examines how individuals and communities responded to this challenge, particularly during periods of famine.
Excerpt:
Treating famines as complex and unique allows us to better understand the conditions that underlie a society’s food supply and also the character and distribution of suffering during a crisis, regardless of the underlying climatic or population regimes. As I show in part 1 of this book, the study of food supply provides a window into methods of environmental adaptation, cultural influences on agricultural production, the strengths and weaknesses of markets and economic institutions, and the moral restrictions behind food entitlements. Part 2 brings these observations to bear in understanding three famines of varying severity. For each event, considering the famine on its own terms involves multiple angles and cannot be easily subsumed into singular grand narratives.
Who is this book for?
This engaging book draws on the archives of Barcelona and Valencia to shed light on food production, distribution, and responses to times of crisis. It offers valuable insights for medievalists interested in agriculture, environmental and urban issues, or broader aspects of social history.
“The approximately two hundred and fifty pages of this book read quickly and pleasingly because the text is well written, with a sincere passion for the subject by the author.” ~ review by Flocel Sabaté in Speculum.
The Author
Adam Franklin-Lyons is associate professor of history at Emerson College. His research focuses on the social and economic history of the Crown of Aragon.
Shortage and Famine in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon
By Adam Franklin-Lyons
The Pennsylvania State University Press
ISBN: 9780271091747
Food security was a major concern for any medieval society. This book examines how individuals and communities responded to this challenge, particularly during periods of famine.
Excerpt:
Treating famines as complex and unique allows us to better understand the conditions that underlie a society’s food supply and also the character and distribution of suffering during a crisis, regardless of the underlying climatic or population regimes. As I show in part 1 of this book, the study of food supply provides a window into methods of environmental adaptation, cultural influences on agricultural production, the strengths and weaknesses of markets and economic institutions, and the moral restrictions behind food entitlements. Part 2 brings these observations to bear in understanding three famines of varying severity. For each event, considering the famine on its own terms involves multiple angles and cannot be easily subsumed into singular grand narratives.
Who is this book for?
This engaging book draws on the archives of Barcelona and Valencia to shed light on food production, distribution, and responses to times of crisis. It offers valuable insights for medievalists interested in agriculture, environmental and urban issues, or broader aspects of social history.
“The approximately two hundred and fifty pages of this book read quickly and pleasingly because the text is well written, with a sincere passion for the subject by the author.” ~ review by Flocel Sabaté in Speculum.
The Author
Adam Franklin-Lyons is associate professor of history at Emerson College. His research focuses on the social and economic history of the Crown of Aragon.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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