Medieval landscapes in the Spanish Central System (450–1350)

A palaeoenvironmental and historical perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID12921712
AuthorsAntonio Blanco-González (0000-0003-4502-9651, Durham University, corresponding author), José Antonio López-Sáez (0000-0002-3122-2744), Francisca Alba‐sánchez (0000-0003-0387-1533, Universidad de Granada), Daniel Abel‐schaad (0000-0003-3915-8342), Sebastián Pérez-Díaz (0000-0002-2702-0058, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
Year2014
Volume7
Issue1
Pages1-17
Publication date2014-06-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Medieval Iberian Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1754-6559 • E-ISSN: 1754-6567
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17546559.2014.925135
OpenAlexW1971746695
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited31

This paper presents a long-term synthetic overview of the socio-ecological dynamics responsible for the shaping of present-day rural landscapes in the Spanish Central System. Available historical and palaeoenvironmental records have been compiled and cross-referenced to characterise key transformations unfolding in this mountainous macro-region during the medieval time span. A sharp deforestation of upland pines and midland oaks was due to extensive Late Antique strategies. Pre-tenth-century trajectories are diverse and exhibit the recovery of high-mountain pine forests and highly localised agro-pastoral impact on selective mid-altitude niches. The eleventh-century early repopulation policy implied migrations, increased momentum of rural village foundation and extension of colonised agrarian landscapes in the tablelands of the Extremadurii. The pace and intensity of these phenomena depended on ecological and historical circumstances, leading to subsequently different realities. By the mid-thirteenth century the definitive pacification and the rising demographic trend facilitated the later permanent occupation and the ensuing integral and sustainable exploitation of the highlands – and especially the Transierra – within the feudal system. High-altitude landscapes exhibit intensive forest clearances due to transterminant livestock movements and the benefit of seasonal resources, whereas low-altitude settings specialised in arboriculture and diversified crops to supply urban markets

Agrarian society · Agriculture · Agroforestry · Archaeology · Deforestation (computer science · Geography · Historical ecology · Land use · Woodland · Medieval Architecture and Archaeology · Tree-ring climate responses · Ecology

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