Page 168 - Panjek, Aleksander, Jesper Larsson and Luca Mocarelli, eds. 2017. Integrated Peasant Economy in a Comparative Perspective: Alps, Scandinavia and Beyond. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 168
integr ated peasant economy in a compar ative perspective
ing insufficient for local needs, they were taken to market, so this produce
was no longer consumed by the local community, which relied on less pre-
cious cereals such as rye, barley and spelt, or legumes and, subsequently,
potatoes and corn (Bulgarelli Lukacs 2006, 50–5).
Unlike agriculture, livestock farming could even provide an income
above subsistence level, and this was especially true of transhumance.
Sheep breeding was a traditional activity in Abruzzo, and constituted a
typical form of investment in the poorest areas, especially the mountains,
including both resident flocks and, above all, transhumance. This was a re-
verse transhumance, as the direction was from the mountains to the Ro-
man and Apulian plains, where the finest wool (‘Gentile di Puglia’ and ‘so-
pravvisana’) was brought at the Foggia Customs station. The fine quality
wool was among the best in Italy, and demand came from manufacturing
centres not only within the Kingdom, but also beyond, especially in the
Lombardy and Veneto area (Piccioni 1989–90, 160–5; Rossi 2007, 190–205).
There is a wealth of literature on transhumance, referred to here, merely to
recall some specific aspects. The first is the geographical concentration of
the phenomenon, as major supply came from three specific areas, namely
the southern slope of the Gran Sasso and the plateau of the Rocche (Calas-
cio, Lucoli, Castel del Monte, Santo Stefano, San Demetrio, Carapelle Cal-
visio, and Ovindoli), the northern slope of the Gran Sasso and the Monti
della Laga on the northwestern border of Abruzzo (Montereale and Ama-
trice), and the western side of Maiella, as well as the Peligna valley (Pacen-
tro, Campo di Giove, Canzano, Pescocostanzo, Roccaraso, Rivisondoli,
Barrea, Pescasseroli, Introdacqua, and Scanno).
It is clear then that transhumance was carried out by a limited num-
ber of mountain communities, attracted by the altitude of around 1,000m
and the abundance of pastureland. The records of the Foggia Customs Au-
thority show their continued and stable presence on the Tavoliere plain in
Apulia, predominating over the other provinces of the South (Molise, Capi-
tanata, Principato Ultra). John Marino’s research makes it possible to quan-
tify their presence, showing that in around two centuries (1591–1779), those
communities regularly brought in 65%–75% of the sheep population re-
corded by the Foggia Customs Authority, thus obtaining the best pastures
(Marino, 1992, 169–74 and appendix B; Piccioni 1993, 197–200; Rossi 2007,
86–116).
For these mountain communities herding had a decisive influence in
the economy of the area. Providing stable employment and even substan-
166
ing insufficient for local needs, they were taken to market, so this produce
was no longer consumed by the local community, which relied on less pre-
cious cereals such as rye, barley and spelt, or legumes and, subsequently,
potatoes and corn (Bulgarelli Lukacs 2006, 50–5).
Unlike agriculture, livestock farming could even provide an income
above subsistence level, and this was especially true of transhumance.
Sheep breeding was a traditional activity in Abruzzo, and constituted a
typical form of investment in the poorest areas, especially the mountains,
including both resident flocks and, above all, transhumance. This was a re-
verse transhumance, as the direction was from the mountains to the Ro-
man and Apulian plains, where the finest wool (‘Gentile di Puglia’ and ‘so-
pravvisana’) was brought at the Foggia Customs station. The fine quality
wool was among the best in Italy, and demand came from manufacturing
centres not only within the Kingdom, but also beyond, especially in the
Lombardy and Veneto area (Piccioni 1989–90, 160–5; Rossi 2007, 190–205).
There is a wealth of literature on transhumance, referred to here, merely to
recall some specific aspects. The first is the geographical concentration of
the phenomenon, as major supply came from three specific areas, namely
the southern slope of the Gran Sasso and the plateau of the Rocche (Calas-
cio, Lucoli, Castel del Monte, Santo Stefano, San Demetrio, Carapelle Cal-
visio, and Ovindoli), the northern slope of the Gran Sasso and the Monti
della Laga on the northwestern border of Abruzzo (Montereale and Ama-
trice), and the western side of Maiella, as well as the Peligna valley (Pacen-
tro, Campo di Giove, Canzano, Pescocostanzo, Roccaraso, Rivisondoli,
Barrea, Pescasseroli, Introdacqua, and Scanno).
It is clear then that transhumance was carried out by a limited num-
ber of mountain communities, attracted by the altitude of around 1,000m
and the abundance of pastureland. The records of the Foggia Customs Au-
thority show their continued and stable presence on the Tavoliere plain in
Apulia, predominating over the other provinces of the South (Molise, Capi-
tanata, Principato Ultra). John Marino’s research makes it possible to quan-
tify their presence, showing that in around two centuries (1591–1779), those
communities regularly brought in 65%–75% of the sheep population re-
corded by the Foggia Customs Authority, thus obtaining the best pastures
(Marino, 1992, 169–74 and appendix B; Piccioni 1993, 197–200; Rossi 2007,
86–116).
For these mountain communities herding had a decisive influence in
the economy of the area. Providing stable employment and even substan-
166
