Diet in medieval Portugal : exploring inter-faith and social dynamics through stable isotope analysis
Medieval Portugal, tucked between a Christian north and an Islamic south, and at a crossroad between Africa and Europe, saw the birth and development of a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. Muslims and Christians co-existed in this region, shaping a unique pluralistic society, first under Islamic political control and later under Christian rule following the Christian conquest of the 12th century. This thesis applies carbon (ÎŽ13C) and nitrogen (ÎŽ15N) isotope analysis to characterises early and late medieval diet under Islamic (8th-12th) and Christian rule (12th-15th), exploring the impact of a shifting political system, status and faith onto economy, food availability and consumption. Analysis of stable isotopes of carbon (ÎŽ13C) and nitrogen (ÎŽ15N) was performed on bone collagen from 176 animals and 251 humans including Muslims and Christians sampled from sites covering a north-south trajectory (Laranjal, Coimbra, Lisbon, Setubal, Beja, Silves and LouleÌ) with a date range between the 8th and 15th centuries. Results indicate that a faith-related difference in diet exists but is also related to chronology and geographical location. Early medieval Muslim diet is based on animal protein and C3 plants
Toso, Alice M.
Diet in medieval Portugal : exploring inter-faith and social dynamics through stable isotope analysis. Medieval Portugal, tucked between a Christian north and an Islamic south, and at a crossroad between Africa and Europe, saw the birth and development of a multi-faith and multi-cultural society. Muslims and Christians co-existed in this region, shaping a unique pluralistic society, first under Islamic political control and later under Christian rule following the Christian conquest of the 12th century. This thesis applies carbon (ÎŽ13C) and nitrogen (ÎŽ15N) isotope analysis to characterises early and late medieval diet under Islamic (8th-12th) and Christian rule (12th-15th), exploring the impact of a shifting political system, status and faith onto economy, food availability and consumption. Analysis of stable isotopes of carbon (ÎŽ13C) and nitrogen (ÎŽ15N) was performed on bone collagen from 176 animals and 251 humans including Muslims and Christians sampled from sites covering a north-south trajectory (Laranjal, Coimbra, Lisbon, Setubal, Beja, Silves and LouleÌ) with a date range between the 8th and 15th centuries. Results indicate that a faith-related difference in diet exists but is also related to chronology and geographical location. Early medieval Muslim diet is based on animal protein and C3 plants
diet medieval portugal explore inter faith social_dynamic stable_isotope_analysis medieval portugal christian north islamic south crossroad africa europe saw birth_development multi faith multi cultural society muslims_christians co_existed region shape unique pluralistic society first islamic political control later christian rule follow christian conquest applies carbon_nitrogen isotope_analysis characterises early_late medieval diet islamic christian rule explore_impact shift political_system status faith onto economy food availability consumption analysis stable_isotope carbon_nitrogen perform bone_collagen animal_human include muslims_christians sample_site cover north_south trajectory date_range indicate faith related difference diet exists also related chronology geographical_location early_medieval muslim diet base animal_protein plant