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Merino Sheep

Type Object Region Iberian Peninsula Time c. 1300

The merino sheep is a fine-wool breed developed on the Iberian Peninsula through long-term selection, and was the core commodity of Castile's export …

Timeline

  1. c. 1300–1470Castilian pastoral regions · CastileSince the Middle Ages, Castilian flock owners developed through selection a merino type characterized by fine, soft wool, gradually replacing coarse-wool native sheep as the main livestock of royal pastures.
  2. 1471–1480Royal pastures of Segovia · SegoviaThe Catholic Monarchs strengthened bans on the export of merino breeding stock and breeding abroad; royal pastures and the Mesta jointly monopolized high-quality flocks, and wool was shipped to Flanders and Italy via places such as Burgos.
  3. 1475–1500Transhumance corridors of the Meseta Plateau · Meseta PlateauRelying on the Mesta's north–south seasonal transhumance, merino flocks continued to grow in the late fifteenth century, becoming the kingdom's largest single livestock asset and source of textile raw materials.

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