"These descriptions are true but insufficient, because England, Barbados and Virginia *were all part of the same system.*" Yeah. Basic things historians know 101 meets Nobel Prize committee 2024. I'm glad to see this piece in the FT.
Oddly enough the authors even adress the question of bias and similar issues...but they seem to perceive it only as contemporary perceptions interfering with 'proper' programming. The problem of the source material, what an "ancient roman focus group" would be (or ever existed) on the other hand...
You're completely right, but what astonishes me is that the basic gist of that should be familiar to anyone with even a passing, but genuine interest in history. "Don't trust sources, always question who wrote it, why and for whom" was the mantra in every introductory course on history at my uni!
Nächste Stufe: Das Formular an sich auf Fehler kontrollieren. Grüsse von jemandem dem ein Formular von einer Behörde vier Mal hintereinander als "falsch unterschrieben" zurückgesendet wurde...bevor das Amt merkte, dass bei der von ihnen zur Verfügung gestellten Vorlage ne Seite fehlte.
Oh yeah, it has also been my experience that myths (and all too generous generalisations) abound when it comes to the history of food in general and cheese in particular. Which is exactly why I'm glad to have stumbled onto your post and I'll be grateful for any and all paper recommendation!
That is really interesting and useful information for me, thanks! Would you happen to know some literature that touches on topics like that? I know about the neolithic and the medieval history of cheese/dairy products in Central Europe, but little about the period in-between.
Yeah, hard cheese in particular is a great thing to have! There's a reason why it was so important for e.g. alpine communities (which is my area of research). So, as much as it pains me as a Swiss medievalist to say this: Well, thanks Romans, I guess there is something good you did after all! ;-)
Never belonged to the camp of "Every man thinks about the Roman Empire at least once a day", but damn, if cheese history is included, ya got me
ROMAN FANBOYS: The Romans were hard AS NAILS! All they cared about was war and winning and manly ways. PLINY: In the next two chapters I'm going to cover all my favourite cheeses OH MY GOD some of these you have to try.
Ah jesses