Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle Ages
While throughout modern history it has been shown how thoroughly biological discourses were shaped by conceptions originating in the theory and praxis of breeding, for the medieval period similar studies are mostly absent. This paper offers a symmetrical history of theory and praxis of breeding by a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Histories |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9252/3/3/16 |
| _version_ | 1797579848294596608 |
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| author | Camille Schneiter |
| author_facet | Camille Schneiter |
| author_sort | Camille Schneiter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While throughout modern history it has been shown how thoroughly biological discourses were shaped by conceptions originating in the theory and praxis of breeding, for the medieval period similar studies are mostly absent. This paper offers a symmetrical history of theory and praxis of breeding by asking to what extent they shaped medieval conceptions of human ‘race’ and ‘ancestry’ in Europe. For scholarly knowledge of breeding, the analysis relies on Albertus Magnus’ extensive Aristotelian work <i>De animalibus</i>. For the practical knowledge of the breeders, scattered indications from the secondary literature are compiled and promising primary sources are outlined for further research. The paper finds that various concepts and practices whose origins are commonly placed in the early modern period were already present in the Middle Ages, including the concept of reproductive heredity and the view that creation diversified over time through reproductive ancestry. Breeding practices, thus, existed before the rise of genetics in modern biology. The medieval conceptions of ‘race’ and ‘ancestry’ underwent conceptual transfers from the non-human into the human sphere, collapsing the qualitative distinction of the two spheres into one quantitively graded overarching image of nature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:42:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6f4193c44db4991a3c1615d545f172d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2409-9252 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:42:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Histories |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6f4193c44db4991a3c1615d545f172d2023-11-19T10:58:03ZengMDPI AGHistories2409-92522023-07-013323124410.3390/histories3030016Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle AgesCamille Schneiter0Department of History, University of Zurich, 8001 Zurich, SwitzerlandWhile throughout modern history it has been shown how thoroughly biological discourses were shaped by conceptions originating in the theory and praxis of breeding, for the medieval period similar studies are mostly absent. This paper offers a symmetrical history of theory and praxis of breeding by asking to what extent they shaped medieval conceptions of human ‘race’ and ‘ancestry’ in Europe. For scholarly knowledge of breeding, the analysis relies on Albertus Magnus’ extensive Aristotelian work <i>De animalibus</i>. For the practical knowledge of the breeders, scattered indications from the secondary literature are compiled and promising primary sources are outlined for further research. The paper finds that various concepts and practices whose origins are commonly placed in the early modern period were already present in the Middle Ages, including the concept of reproductive heredity and the view that creation diversified over time through reproductive ancestry. Breeding practices, thus, existed before the rise of genetics in modern biology. The medieval conceptions of ‘race’ and ‘ancestry’ underwent conceptual transfers from the non-human into the human sphere, collapsing the qualitative distinction of the two spheres into one quantitively graded overarching image of nature.https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9252/3/3/16history of biologysymmetrical historymedieval breedingraceancestryAristotelianism |
| spellingShingle | Camille Schneiter Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle Ages Histories history of biology symmetrical history medieval breeding race ancestry Aristotelianism |
| title | Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle Ages |
| title_full | Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle Ages |
| title_fullStr | Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle Ages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle Ages |
| title_short | Changing Natures: On Theory and Practice of Breeding in the European Middle Ages |
| title_sort | changing natures on theory and practice of breeding in the european middle ages |
| topic | history of biology symmetrical history medieval breeding race ancestry Aristotelianism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9252/3/3/16 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT camilleschneiter changingnaturesontheoryandpracticeofbreedingintheeuropeanmiddleages |