THE MESTA
in the Middle Ages, when the maiorinus first appeared, instead
of at the very close of the mediaeval period. Similarly, a theory
that ‘ merino ’ is derived from a combination of certain early
Iberian and primitive Navarrese words1 is disposed of by the
much later date of the appearance in Castile both of the species
and of its name.
Furthermore, from the earliest times the Spanish stock had
been periodically improved by the introduction of African rams,2
and from the thirteenth century onward by the investigation and
application of Berber pastoral practices. During the later Mid-
dle Ages every lull in the Moorish wars found the more able
Spanish monarchs alert to improve native stock by crossing with
North African animals. This subject was of particular interest to
such progressive administrators as Peter IV of Aragon (1336-87)
and Cardinal Ximenes (1436-1517). The latter was especially
persistent in turning the attention of his royal patrons to the
resources and possibilities of the adjoining North African coast.
In this he was ably assisted by Palacios Rubios, the gifted legal
adviser of Ferdinand and Isabella, who, during his twelve years
of service as President of the Mesta, gave invaluable aid by
facilitating importations from Africa and by codifying old regu-
lations on breeding.3 After the extensive introduction of Berber
stock, every effort was made to eliminate the so-called churro.
This was the ancient native Iberian species, which produced the
reddish Turdetanian wool known to the Romans. By careful
breeding and selection the pure merino strain was strengthened
and spread, and the famous white, kinky staple gradually found
its way overseas and became Spain’s great contribution to inter-
national trade and to the pastoral industry of the world.4 Thence-
1 Costa, Esludios Ibiricos, pp. xv-xvi.
2 Columella’s classic work on ancient agriculture, De Re Rustica Libri XII, vii,
2, 4, mentions the importation of African rams into Spain for breeding purposes.
a Ensayo de la Soeiedad Vaseongada, pp. 128-129; Zapata, Nolicia de Ianas
finas (Madrid, 1820); Paris Bib. Nat. Res. Oa r98 ter. no. 33: a carefully pre-
pared anonymous account of early sheep importations from Africa into Spain.
4 On the methods used by the herdsmen to improve the ehurro wool and to de-
velop the merino stock, see Gaceta de Madrid, 10 August 1846; Semanario de
Agricultura, no. 125 (Madrid, 1799), p. 330; and Mohedano, Historia Hterariade
Espana, ɪv, p. 338 (Madrid, 1772).
ORIGINS
forth the merino became the pampered favorite of kings; every-
thing was done to meet its needs; perennial pasturage was pro-
vided in different parts of the realm, in order that the rigors of
the climate might be avoided; and finally the formidable organi-
sation of the Mesta was developed to insure the further protec-
tion of the favored animal. The churro, the unkempt, despised,
meagre-fleeced native stock, was neglected and survived only in
the non-migrating flocks, the object of scorn and abuse from the
itinerant herdsmen. It seems reasonably certain, then, that, like
so many other elements contributing to the development of Spain,
economic as well as cultural and political, the merino and many
features of the migratory sheep industry were introduced by the
Moors.
It must not be presumed, however, that the whole industry was
unknown in Spain before the Moorish period. The practice of
semiannual sheep migrations in the peninsula goes back to the
times of the Goths, and probably even to the times of the aborig-
inal Iberians, whose wandering shepherds were reported to have
rendered valuable assistance to the Carthaginians in their marches
across the peninsula.1 Various reasons have been advanced for
the early appearance and rapid increase of the transhumantes,
canariegos, caminantes, posantes, or pasajeros, as the migrants
have been called. It has been suggested that the constant state
of warfare between Moors and Chris1 ians was largely responsible
for the development of this form of movable property, which
might readily be taken out of danger in times of hostility.2 The
devastation wrought by plagues, notably the Black Death of
1348-50, has also been held responsible for the spread of the in-
dustry over the depopulated territory. The Mesta, according to
this view, was “ the child of pestilence, to be classed with the
locust and syphilis as one of the three great curses of humanity,
ɑɪl bred by the hated Berber infidels, and, like them, sweeping out
°f Africa and bringing further devastation to Spain in the wake
1 Costa, Estudios Ibericos, p. ii. On the evidence of Visigothic sheep highways
and communal pastures for migratory flocks, see Fuero Juzgo (Lex Visigothorum),
1⅛∙ 8, tit. 4, Ieyes 26-27, and t>t∙ 5, ley 5, which are discussed below (p. 18).
2 Sugenheim, Geschichte der Aufhebung der Leibeigenschaft (1861), p. 42; Munoz,
PP- 39-41; Canciones de mio Cid, v, pp. 280-291.