Le cheval dans les societes antiques et medievales

Actes des Journees d'etude internationales organisees par l'UMR 7044 (Etude des civilisations de l'Antiquite) Strasbourg, 6-7 novembre 2009

edited by S. Lazaris, preface by C. Morrisson

Book cover: Le cheval dans les societes antiques et medievales

Extent: 311 pages

Publisher: Brepols Publishers (Brepnd)

Subjects: Classical Studies, Mediterranean Archaeology

Series: Bibliothèque de l'Antiquité Tardive

Series volume number: 22

Language: French

Paperback (Published)

(July 2012)

ISBN: 9782503544403

Price: $113.00

Out of stock

The book is divided into three sections. In the first, contributors analyze the origins and use of cavalry in the Roman army. Additionally, this section explores the regional differences in the breeding of horses throughout the Mediterranean, their monetary value, as well as the hippological knowledge of Antiquity. The chapters constituting the second part discuss the medieval, Byzantine, and western horse. They approach this subject via texts, archaeological sources, illustrations, and an examination of the customs and traditions of these civilizations. The final part focuses on hippological instruments, weapons, and the care of horses. Here the contributors examine the innovations, adoptions, and adaptations during late Antiquity of pieces of equestrian equipment essential for war, such as stirrups and bits. Horsemens weapons are reevaluated, as well as the changes in their tactics brought about by the widespread adoption of stirrups. Also present is an analysis of the vocabulary used for the anatomy of the horse in Greek hippological literature, which saw an unprecedented increase at this time thanks to the development of the Roman and Proto-Byzantine cavalry. French text.


These Actes des Journees d’etude internationales (Strasbourg, 6-7 November 2009) are the end result of a 2007-2009 research programme held at the UMR 7044 (Etude des civilisations de l’Antiquite: de la Prehistoire a Byzance) on the role of the horse in the Byzantine Empire. These fourteen contributions focus on the role of the horse in both war and leisure from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The book is divided into three sections. In the first, contributors analyze the origins and use of cavalry in the Roman army. Additionally, this section explores the regional differences in the breeding of horses throughout the Mediterranean, their monetary value, as well as the hippological knowledge of Antiquity. The chapters constituting the second part discuss the medieval, Byzantine, and western horse. They approach this subject via texts, archaeological sources, illustrations, and an examination of the customs and traditions of these civilizations. The final part focuses on hippological instruments, weapons, and the care of horses. Here the contributors examine the innovations, adoptions, and adaptations during late Antiquity of pieces of equestrian equipment essential for war, such as stirrups and bits. Horsemen’s weapons are re-evaluated, as well as the changes in their tactics brought about by the widespread adoption of stirrups. Also present is an analysis of the vocabulary used for the anatomy of the horse in Greek hippological literature, which saw an unprecedented increase at this time thanks to the development of the Roman and Proto-Byzantine cavalry.

  • Preface by C Morrisson
  • Edited by S Lazaris