Mountain Economies of Southern Europe

The mountain areas of Southern Europe area an area primarily devoted to the pastoral activities during the pre-modern time. The area was largely dependent on animal husbandry as the primary form of economic activity. This particular work focuses on the primarily the history of this economic system and culture. This transhumance or large scale movement of livestock is first examined through a variety of methods. One of these is the examination of cultures who practice similar techniques used in pre-industrial animal husbandry. This information allows a further exploration of the subject with a less limited focus.

With the mountain economies of Southern Europe is important to understand these societies always existed on the margin. They were in each period of history considered usually inferior to other groups which lived in the lowlands. Thus the Romans who did detailed study of these peoples found them to be unimportant though they did observe the existence of markets and bartering for goods. For these areas before the industrial revolution agriculture was difficult and tended to be subsistence farming. The largely unsuitable farm land left these populations to use animal husbandry which was significantly less efficient than agriculture as it required more land and to feed a fairly small number of people.

The most successful time for transhumance which greatly benefited the people of Southern Europe was during the rule of powerful governments which could protect these large movements of livestock. Thus the Romans and from the twelfth century to the sixteenth century were the best times for this system. During the time when transhumance was possible two distinctive types existed vertical or alpine and horizontal or Mediterranean. Vertical transhumance is the movement of livestock from the valleys to the hills in summer to allow the farming of produce which will feed these animals in the winter. Horizontal transhumance is the movement of livestock from the lowlands to the hills in summer due to a lack of pasture land in the lowland areas during this time.

An important factor which effected this transhumance system was climate. Both these two previously discussed systems could exist in the Mediterranean region. Climate was a major driver in how transhumance worked in each specific area. Other factors however also have to help explain the practice of transhumance. One of such being the week agricultural economy due to war. Another being the demand for pastoral products such as wool and cheese. This entire system exists due to the limited zone of natural grassland which allowed humans to change the landscape to create this system which had necessary resources. The author concludes using this information to find the system was unnecessary and a result of a peasant economy focused on agriculture. The system was the author found more economically damaging than helpful.

Throughout our travels in the Abruzzo region the importance of transhumance and continued existence of pastoral agriculture was evident. This economic system still exists in a certain way in this area. The raising of livestock is still an important part of the lives of many of the people in the area. It is clear that despite its limitations the idea of transhumance persists.

Sheep Herding in the Abruzzo Region