Chicken Vendors
Chicken Husbandry in Late-Medieval Eastern England: c. 1250-1400
Paper by Philip Slaven, Yale University
ABSTRACT
Philip Slavin of Yale University, offers a unique paper on the place of the chicken within the changing environment of late-medieval England. First, Slavin’s paper examines the seigniorial sector of chicken farming, in terms of size of stocks, patterns of disposal and scale of consumption. It then explores the patchy data regarding the peasant sector. The study shows that overall patterns differed between the pre- and post-Black Death periods. After the pestilence, chicken husbandry started shifting from the demesne to the peasant sector of agriculture. The post-1350 changes reflect larger processes, which occurred in late-medieval society, economy and environment.
INTRODUCTION
The present paper explores the place and importance of the chicken within the shifting context of late-medieval English agriculture, society and environment, between c.1250 and 1400. It shows how the history of chicken husbandry reflects larger processes and phenomena connected to this context. During this period, England experienced a long series of profound changes and shocks, which transformed its society, economy and environment.
Read Slavin’s paper: http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/front/medias/publication/23772_35_56_HD_N.pdf