Agriculture on the Lombard Plain: A Medieval and Early Modern Overview

Authors

  • Stefano Buckley

Abstract

Examining the composition of a particular landscape is a fruitful framework by which to understand its human history. The Lombard Plain, in northern Italy, is no exception. This paper identifies key forces which shaped the region during the medieval and early modern period, such as the ambitions of the ducal families of Milan, an emphasis on intensive agriculture, commercial interests, and the development of canals. It also argues that despite praise for Lombardy’s fertility and productivity, one must consider the influences of disease, war, and the oppression of the rural population in order to provide a balanced understanding of this landscape.

Cover of "The Ascendant Historian," Volume 4, an undergraduate history journal. The black-and-white photograph features the pyramid of Chichen Itza, known as El Castillo or the Temple of Kukulcán, located in Yucatán, Mexico. The stepped pyramid rises prominently under a partly cloudy sky, with several people walking near its base, providing scale and a sense of human engagement with the ancient site.

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Published

2025-09-12

How to Cite

Buckley, Stefano. 2025. “Agriculture on the Lombard Plain: A Medieval and Early Modern Overview”. the Ascendant Historian 4 (September):12-22. https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/corvette/article/view/22473.

Issue

Vol. 4 (2025)

Section

Articles

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