Transhumance and Livestock Farming in Medieval Castile

Castilian farmers organized transhumance to feed their livestock.

King Alfonso X was aware of the importance of the livestock in his kingdoms and established the Mesta, an association that looked after the interests of livestock farmers.

The flocks of sheep belonged to rich families who had fiefdoms in the region. Most wool from the sheep was exported to textile mills in northern Europe.

The king agreed to share the creation of laws with the Cortes and to respect the rights of nobility, clergy, and ordinary people through a series of pacts.

The royal court, ciceroy, Cortes, generalidad, chief justice, and Mallorca were ruled by the General Council.