The WORST medieval creature
TLDRIn medieval times, pigs were more than just farm animals; they were wild, intelligent creatures that caused chaos in communities. Domesticated versions of wild boars, these medieval pigs were kept by most households, both rural and urban, to turn waste into valuable meat. However, they often roamed the streets, digging up roads and stealing food, leading to strict rules and fines to control them. Despite the nuisance, pigs were an essential source of protein in a society without modern food conveniences.
Takeaways
- 🐗 The medieval pig was more like a domesticated wild boar, with characteristics such as fur, longer legs, and tusks, making it quite different from modern pigs.
- 🏡 Most people in medieval times, both in rural areas and towns, kept pigs, which were often fed on domestic waste and were a source of quick growth and valuable meat.
- 🏘️ In urban environments, pigs were sometimes turned out onto the streets, causing chaos by digging up roads, stealing food, and creating a nuisance in the community.
- 👥 There was a profession called 'Municipal Swineherd' whose job was to gather and manage the pigs in towns, taking them to areas with available food like local woods.
- 💰 People could pay a small amount to have their pigs looked after by the swineherd, ensuring they were brought back in the evening and kept in their yards.
- 🚫 Some towns had strict rules about keeping pigs off the streets, with penalties including the killing of the pig and fines based on the number of legs or quarters of the carcass.
- 🕰 In some places like Cambridge, pigs were only allowed on the streets after dark, indicating a reverse curfew for pigs.
- 🔔 At Saint Anthony's Hospital in London, pigs were allowed to roam a particular street but had to be identifiable by a bell, suggesting some form of identification for pigs.
- 🍖 Pigs were kept because they converted household waste into a valuable source of protein, which was crucial in a society without modern food delivery systems.
- 🌳 The speaker suggests that living closer to the natural and domestic landscape, including animals like pigs, could bring joy and a connection to nature, despite potential inconveniences.
- 📜 There is a lack of clear records on how pigs were individually identified when they were turned out, whether by bells, collars, branding, or other means.
Q & A
What was the medieval pig like compared to modern pigs?
-The medieval pig was more like a domesticated wild boar, covered in fur with longer legs, and quite similar to a wild animal. It was smart, quick, had tusks, spines along the back, and bristles, which made it more aggressive and capable of causing mayhem in medieval communities.
Why were medieval pigs kept in urban environments?
-Medieval pigs were kept in urban environments because they were efficient at turning household waste into valuable meat and protein. They were fed domestic waste and were expected to grow quickly, providing a source of food for the community.
What problems did pigs cause in medieval towns and cities?
-Pigs in medieval towns and cities caused chaos by rooting around in the landscape, digging up roads, stealing food, and waste thrown out onto the streets. Their behavior was a nuisance, especially during market days, and they often damaged property and caused mayhem.
What was the role of a Municipal Swineherd in medieval communities?
-A Municipal Swineherd was responsible for gathering up the official pigs from the community and driving them to a place where they could forage for food, such as local woods where pannage was available. They were paid a small amount of money to look after the pigs of many different people.
How did some medieval communities attempt to control the chaos caused by pigs?
-Some communities implemented rules to control pigs. For example, in some places, pigs found in the street could be killed, and the owner had to pay a fine to get the carcass back. In Cambridge, pigs were forbidden on the streets except after dark, effectively creating a reverse curfew for pigs.
What was unique about the pigs at Saint Anthony's Hospital in London?
-The pigs at Saint Anthony's Hospital in London were allowed to be turned out onto a particular street, but they had to be identified by a little bell. This made them distinguishable from other pigs roaming the streets.
What were the penalties for pigs found in the streets in some medieval towns?
-In some medieval towns, if a pig was found in the street, it could be summarily killed. The owner could get the carcass back by paying a fine, typically four pins, which was the cost for each quarter of the pig.
What was the typical time it took for a medieval pig to reach slaughter weight?
-It took about two years for a pig to reach slaughter weight in the medieval period, which is much longer than the time it takes for modern pigs to reach the same weight.
Why were bells used to identify pigs at Saint Anthony's Hospital in London?
-Bells were used to identify pigs at Saint Anthony's Hospital in London to differentiate them from other pigs and to ensure that they were recognized as belonging to the hospital, allowing them to roam a particular street as per the stipulations.
What was the significance of pigs in medieval society in terms of waste management and food production?
-Pigs played a crucial role in medieval society by turning household waste into valuable meat and protein. They were an essential source of food for a society that did not have access to modern conveniences like supermarkets or home food delivery.
What is the speaker's perspective on living closer to the natural and domestic landscape, including domestic animals?
-The speaker believes that living closer to the natural and domestic landscape, including domestic animals, can bring joy to life, despite the potential problems they might cause, such as digging up lawns.
Outlines
🐗 Medieval Pigs: The Beast of the Streets
This paragraph discusses the medieval pig, which was more akin to a domesticated wild boar than the docile animals we know today. Medieval pigs were smart, quick, and covered in fur with tusks and spines. They were kept by most people, both in rural areas and in towns, where they were fed household waste and expected to grow quickly. However, when turned out onto the streets, these pigs would root around, causing chaos by digging up roads and stealing food. The paragraph also mentions the role of the 'municipal swineherd,' who would gather and manage the pigs during the day, and the harsh penalties for pigs found in the streets, including being killed and the owner having to pay a fine to retrieve the carcass.
🕰️ Pig Rules and Regulations in the Middle Ages
The second paragraph delves into the rules and regulations surrounding pigs in medieval times. It highlights the peculiar curfew for pigs in Cambridge, where pigs were forbidden on the streets during daytime hours but allowed after dark. The paragraph also mentions the unique case of Saint Anthony's Hospital in London, which had the privilege of turning out its pigs onto a particular street, provided they wore identifying bells. The narrative underscores the importance of pigs in converting household waste into valuable meat, a crucial source of protein in a society without modern food delivery systems. Despite the problems they caused, the paragraph concludes by reflecting on the joy and connection to nature that domestic animals like pigs could bring to life, albeit with the potential downside of damaging property like lawns.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Medieval Pig
💡Selective Breeding
💡Rural Existence
💡Municipal Swineherd
💡Pannage
💡Urban Environment
💡Domestic Waste
💡Slaughter Weight
💡Mayhem
💡Curfew
💡Pig Identification
Highlights
Medieval pigs were more like domesticated wild boars, causing chaos in communities due to their wild nature.
Medieval pigs were covered in fur, had longer legs, tusks, and spines, making them more dangerous than modern pigs.
Pigs were used to root around and destroy things, which was useful in the medieval period.
80% of people lived in rural areas and kept pigs, while 20% in towns and cities also kept them in their yards.
Pigs were fed domestic waste and were expected to grow quickly, reaching slaughter weight in about two years.
Pigs were often turned out onto public streets, causing chaos by digging up roads and stealing food.
There was a job called 'Municipal swineherd' who would gather and look after the pigs during the day.
Pigs were driven to local woods for pannage, an ancient rite of harvesting wild food.
Some people didn't want to pay for swineherd services, opting for their pigs to forage in town detritus.
Pigs caused mayhem, especially during market days, and it was difficult to identify whose pig was causing trouble.
In some places, pigs found in the street could be killed, and owners had to pay a fine to get the carcass back.
In Cambridge, pigs were forbidden on the streets except after dark, creating a reverse curfew.
Saint Anthony's Hospital in London was allowed to turn out pigs, but they had to be identified by a bell.
Pigs were kept because they turned household waste into valuable meat, an important source of protein.
The speaker suggests living closer to the natural and domestic landscape, including domestic animals for joy.
Pigs, despite causing problems, brought joy and were an integral part of medieval life.
Transcripts
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