Julius Caesar on his opponents' diet of MILK and MEAT

[brinkley]

From de Bello Gallico Book IV:


The nation of the Suevi is by far the largest and the most warlike nation of all the Germans. They are said to possess a hundred cantons, from each of which they yearly send from their territories for the purpose of war a thousand armed men . . . They do not live much on
corn, but subsist for the most part on milk and flesh, and are much [engaged] in hunting; which circumstance must, by the nature of their food, and by their daily exercise and the freedom of their life (for having from boyhood been accustomed to no employment, or discipline, they do nothing at all contrary to their inclination), both promote their strength and render them men of vast stature of body.

They were 50sbig! (50 B.C.)

And bad-ass:


And to such a habit have they brought themselves, that even in the coldest parts they wear no clothing whatever except skins, by reason of the scantiness of which a great portion of their body is bare, and besides they bathe in open rivers.

[Dastardly]

I wouldnt go getting nutrition advice from people who destroyed there society drinking booze from lead vessels.

Also remember that the favourite meat of the romans was mice.

[Raskolnikov]

The Gallic Wars is a fucking awesome account.

And, Dastardly, Caesar isn't describing Romans; he's describing a Germanic tribe.

[simonsky]

haha they're negative (-)50'sbig because it was B.C.:D

Co-Captains

1) Dougissimus Youngpernicus

2) Anatoly Pisarenko (haha still sounds like old school greek historian names)

[Dastardly]

The Gallic Wars is a fucking awesome account.

And, Dastardly, Caesar isn't describing Romans; he's describing a Germanic tribe.

My Bad, I miss words sometimes.

[gzt]

haha they're negative (-)50'sbig because it was B.C.:D

Co-Captains

1) Dougissimus Youngpernicus

2) Anatoly Pisarenko (haha still sounds like old school greek historian names)
To sound Greek, it would probably be Anatolios Pisarenikos.

[kittenSmash]

Also remember that the favourite meat of the romans was mice.

Actually I believe it was tube steak

[Dastardly]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xYY7IOt8M-8/SujA56NqbBI/AAAAAAAAHE0/iZ9NURKS6Os/slovenian%20dormice.jpg

[knkavo]

I wouldnt go getting nutrition advice from people who destroyed there society drinking booze from lead vessels.

Also remember that the favourite meat of the romans was mice.

Not your ordinary common mouse, but the dormouse. Much tastier.

Actually I wouldn't know, but I have eaten hedgehog, and they are delicious.

[Guido]

To sound Greek, it would probably be Anatolios Pisarenikos.I was thinking more like "Anatolios Pisarenkopolis". :D

The Suevi tribe sounded very Viking-like. Nice find.

[knkavo]

I was thinking more like "Anatolios Pisarenkopolis". :D


Anatolis Pisarenkidis.

I am the only Greek here (as far as I know) so my word on this matter is final.

[Guido]

Anatolis Pisarenkidis.

I am the only Greek here (as far as I know) so my word on this matter is final.Touche. It is settled.

[orcuttman]

I wish 'food history' were more developed, there are so few books/university classes on the subject.

For those who wanted to know more about eating mice,
"Dormice were domesticated and fattened for eating by the Romans who reguarded them as a great delicacy. At Trimalchio's feast in the Satyricaon they were served glazed with honey and coated with poppy seeds."

-From Food of the Anchient World by Alcock

[Bloodninja666]

5 Star Op.

[knkavo]

[At] Trimalchio's feast in the Satyricaon they were served glazed with honey and coated with poppy seeds."

That actually sounds really really good.

As I said, I have eaten hedgehog. I also eat rabbit and hare regularly. All are really tasty (if a bit lean). How different could a dormouse taste?

Getting hungry, forgot my lunchbox today god damn it.

[Evan]

In Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (2004) by Jack Weatherford, (p. 87):

Compared to the Jurched [Chinese] soldiers, the Mongols were much healthier and stronger. The Mongols consumed a steady diet of meat, milk, yogurt, and other dairy products, and they fought men who lived on gruel made from various grains. The grain diet of the peasant warriors stunted their bones, rotted their teeth, and left them weak and prone to disease. In contrast, the poorest Mongol soldier ate mostly protein, thereby giving him strong teeth and bones.


http://www.amazon.com/Genghis-Khan-Making-Modern-World/dp/0609809644/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268376953&sr=8-3

Great book btw.

[damonwells]

And who could forget Biggus Dikkus?

[Raskolnikov]

In Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (2004) by Jack Weatherford, (p. 87):

Compared to the Jurched [Chinese] soldiers, the Mongols were much healthier and stronger. The Mongols consumed a steady diet of meat, milk, yogurt, and other dairy products, and they fought men who lived on gruel made from various grains. The grain diet of the peasant warriors stunted their bones, rotted their teeth, and left them weak and prone to disease. In contrast, the poorest Mongol soldier ate mostly protein, thereby giving him strong teeth and bones.

Great book btw.

Very cool book. The author also references Marco Polo's description of the Mongols carrying pounds of dried milk as they rode: they would simply add the powdered milk to a flask of water and sip on the stuff throughout the day. 13th century GOMAD?

[Evan]

Very cool book. The author also references Marco Polo's description of the Mongols carrying pounds of dried milk as they rode: they would simply add the powdered milk to a flask of water and sip on the stuff throughout the day. 13th century GOMAD?

Meat + Milk lead to the largest empire in world history. I think we are on to something here boys.... even if it was fermented horse milk!

[MAD9692]

In Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World (2004) by Jack Weatherford, (p. 87):Great book btw.

Thanks for this. I just got the book and it is a really good read.

[moboss]

Sounds like a cool book, just ordered it.

[RyanH]

This is a cool book on my to get list:

Cannibals and Kings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibals_and_Kings)

[jimuk80]

Not your ordinary common mouse, but the dormouse. Much tastier.

Actually I wouldn't know, but I have eaten hedgehog, and they are delicious.


Hehe........i've eaten a fair bit of Beaver in my time. Results vary!

[cannibal.horse]

Something you need to remember is that the imagery of the barbarians is set us as a deliberate contrast to the romans - in the section you're reading Caesar paints the Germans across the river as barbaric (he also states they do not wash, use money nor care for material possessions).

This is for 3 reasons:
1) gain the interest of the roman reader (you get similar themes in Tacitus)
2) Embellishes Roman victory
3) Sets up a point of 'justification' for Caesar's attacks for the Roman reader (they were savages therefore it doesnt matter).

Reality was by that time the Gauls were quite civilised - theyd adopted democratic governments similar to the romans, had courts of law and established grain supplies. I'm not sure exactly about the tribes who lived across the Rhine, but its hard to imagine they'd be enormously different.

[250orBust]

What are you some kind of history teacher? I thought this post was about milk and meat!

[rpbrown]

What are you some kind of history teacher? I thought this post was about milk and meat!

I think he's trying to say ... the barbarians had lives outside of the weight room!