A Cultural History of Animals in the Medieval Age
(Hardback)
Available Formats
Publishing Details
A Cultural History of Animals in the Medieval Age
By (Author) Brigitte Resl
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Berg Publishers
1st September 2010
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
Animals and society
590.902
Physical Properties
Hardback
280
Width 172mm, Height 244mm
Description
Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2008 A Cultural History of Animals in the Medieval Age investigates the changing roles of animals in medieval culture, economy and society in the period 1000 to 1400. The period saw significant changes in scientific and philosophical approaches to animals as well as their representation in art. Animals were omnipresent in medieval everyday life. They had enormous importance for medieval agriculture and trade and were also hunted for food and used in popular entertainments. At the same time, animals were kept as pets and used to display their owner's status, whilst medieval religion attributed complex symbolic meanings to animals. A Cultural History of Animals in the Medieval Age presents an overview of the period and continues with essays on the position of animals in contemporary symbolism, hunting, domestication, sports and entertainment, science, philosophy, and art.
Reviews
The Cultural History of Animals presents an innovative and compelling introduction to current scholarship about the historical relationships between people and other animals. * Harriet Ritvo, Arthur J. Conner Professor of History, M.I.T. *
An innovative and ambitious project that synthesizes knowledge of animals as living creatures and their symbolic representations... an invaluable contribution to our understanding... A combination of surprise and entertainment with serious research gives these volumes a place in the best tradition of accessible science. * Bernd Hppauf, New York University for H-Soz-u-Kult *
High quality editing, clear writing, and abundant visual illustrations ... These volumes will be basic to future scholarship dealing with animals and society. Essential. * Choice *
Author Bio
Brigitte Resl is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Liverpool and is author of Understanding Animals, 1150-1350 and co-author of Writing Nature in the Early Middle Ages
