5: Agricultural History (Nature of society 500- 800) Flashcards
What happened to Irish agriculture before the start of the early medieval period?
Before the start of the early medieval period, Ireland experienced white a dip in terms of agriculture, but it had bounced back by the time of the Vikings. Why?
What is the traditional view regarding the rejuvenation of the Irish economy and who argues it?
The traditional reasoning for this upsurge is argued by Mytum, whoa argues that this resurgence was a result of Ireland’s contact with Britain
What is the issue with Mytum’s argument regarding economic resurgence?
His argument is probably true in a sense, as there was a definite cultural exchange between the regions (to which Ogam stones are one testament) but this means that there would have been an inexplicable delay of a couple of centuries between the peak of Roman Britain and Ireland’s resurgence.
Why is pollen evidence useful?
It allows us to examine crops and the way in which the landscape was used
What does pollen evidence suggest?
That in the years from 100BC onwards, there was quite significant reforestation, which implies that land was no longer being cleared/used for agriculture
– At the site of Nevan, pollen evidence records this as occurring up until 400AD
What happens in the fourth century?
Agriculture seems to pick up, and continues into the 5th century– We can determine this based on level of grass pollen as this indicates pastural farming
What was the situation c. 600AD? And what does this mean/ result in?
By 600AD the agricultural/ pastural land was the same as the Iron Age, and thus this is when we start to see an increase in Ireland’s cultural output
What helped to drive this increase in pastural farming?
Several technological advancements, such as plough technology and milling technology.
Plough advancement…
One example is the Coulter plough, which was introduced to Ireland c. 300AD, and allows for land to be cleared much quicker
Milling advancement….
Monasteries tended to lead the way in the advancements of mills, as the monastery itself provided the impetus for this, as they would have had large populations to feed.
–Key site is Nendrum in Co Down which is on an inlet from the sea called Strangford Lough, so they could harness this power for milling. Archaeologists have found 2 successive mills here from the 6th century,
Some reasons why cows were so important in this period?
Your status in society was often determined by how many cows you owned, and you could often lend them out to your neighbours which would increase your prestige
– they are a form of moveable wealth, but one that has to be guarded.
What convey the importance of cattle? how do we know of their importance?
The cattle raid of Cooley and the Cattle raid of feach
- however these sources aren’t totally historical as they are based on a somewhat mythical past, but general picture is probably accurate
- Entry in Annals of ulster for 855 somewhat corroborates the picture they give us
Why does McCormick believe that cows were so valuable?
Dairy products had become more used/ valued, even though the cows themselves had been in ireland since the neolithic period.
– osteological evidence suggests that cows lived to a relatively old age, and thus were not slaughtered for meat so much.
