Livestock in Early Medieval England

Banham, D. & Faith, R. 2014. Anglo-Saxon Farms & Farming. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

[Mythographology]

This is really well developed Simon. I particularly like that you are providing references to texts. Signposting us towards further reading really enhances the quality of the work. When I held a smallholding in North Wales, I had four Anglo Sarnen goats for their milk. I bought a load of fencing, spent a day making a field 'goatproof'. Finished at about 4 in the afternoon, led the goats into their field and then shut the gate and went back to the house for a cup of tea and a sandwich. I had just put the kettle on and sliced a loaf when there was a noise behind me. The door to the kitchen was pushed open and in walked my four goats to see what I was doing. It had taken them less than 3 minutes to get out of my goatproof field!

[thekenneth]

Simon, I just wanted to pause a moment to let you know that I find your video topics consistently interesting, no matter how seemingly esoteric. Glad you're making them.

[cleon_teunissen]

Livestock was counted as 'heads'; heads of sheep, heads of cows.
The latin word for head being 'caput', the word 'capital' came to be used in the meaning of 'wealth'. Also: in Old French a form of 'capital' was contracted, and the contracted form was adopted into english as 'cattle'.

Incidentally, a counterpart of 'caput' in early english was 'heved', which later became the english word 'head'

Source: 'Origins, an etymological dictionary of english' by Eric Partridge.


(The amount of words and meanings derived from 'Capital' is quite extraordinary. My favorite: when a city was besieged there would be negotiations for the terms of surrender (a city surrendering *early* might be able to negotiate a promise of not being sacked). The terms of surrender would be written in a series of 'chapters', the first word of each chapter written with a big initial. This process of negotation of terms of surrender was such common practice that it came to be referred to as 'capitulation'.)

[Sindraug]

I like that you said, "wrangle in a couple of my old lecturers" in a video about livestock.

[tenns]

No disclaimer gang, the authority is here

[gregoryriley]

As you've done so many times, Mr. Roper, you've made me realize how interesting and significant the "mundane" is and was. I look forward to your expansion(s) on this topic!

[LivingHistorySchool]

My pigs run wild with no fences. They stay within two acres even though they have the opportunity to forage in the forest. The boar marks his territory on the bark of trees at the outer boundaries and the group stays within them.

Faunal Archaeology was my favorite. I loved sorting and piecing together bones.

[mild_meme]

Kai is how it survived in Scots: "She wiz girtlin' and brewin' ale. She wiz girtlin' an' tryin' t' milk the kai."
Girtling is quite a specific verb meaning to potter with liquids ineffectually.

[msJill]

I absolutely love the fusion here. Bringing together the archaeological and linguistic focuses really gave this video dimension that I can't find elsewhere. I wasn't expecting this when I clicked. Keep it up!

[utinam]

I really enjoyed this, Simon. I learned a lot. On the face of it the subject was not interesting for someone who normally follows you for linguistics, but your quiet enthusiasm and your ability to draw connections between different fields of study quickly drew me in. Your precise pronunciation of classical Latin - something many learned people can't be bothered with - suggests you are concerned about rigueur in all other areas too, but perhaps above all it's your warmth and passion for the material that carries the day. In a crazy world, this cheered me up immensely!

[MrGalpino]

My mum had a folk music cd called speed the plough. In one song the lyrics say "the cy is in the corn".

[darnokthemage]

Four horns seem to have been a thing on Gotland (swedish island) too in very old heritage breeds, we know that they had them in the 1500s at least.

[janewhite]

Livestock is an interesting diversion from your usual focus. I look forward to hearing more

[TrondBørgeKrokli]

As a Norwegian, I find several of the OE names very familiar, because they sound so close to their modern Norwegian counterparts. Examples: "ku" = cow, "kyr" = cows, "svin" = swine. Thank you for the overall interesting video, it is quite enjoyable.

[RaymondEggwhites]

As someone who has recently begun writing a fantasy novel, it's videos like these that I find both fascinating and invaluable. Every bit I can learn about what everyday life was like some 5-700 years ago is important to me, for it helps paint a more realistic picture. I admit to wishing I had gone through formal education and picked these kinds of things up, but learning about it on my own has been quite rewarding in its own right. Thanks for a great vid Simon!

[katepalmer]

I love your content so much, it always sets my cogs whirling. More livestock vids please!

[kellimbt]

This was fascinating! I'd love to see more of your archaeology stuff.

[davestockbridgeAWE]

I never would have imagined I would be interested in this... thanks mate

[sammyanne]

I have learnt so much from you. Eternally grateful. With knowledge comes the pleasure in knowing.

[netzdame]

Very interesting! Thank you. As a side note: piglet in German is Ferkel (n.)