Per il lavoro o l’impiego militare. Gli Stati europei e l’aumento della popolazione cavallina nel lungo Ottocento

For some time now, international historiography has been exploring the relationships between animals, the economy, and institutions. This monographic section of the journal contributes to this field with a series of original studies. Equines have always been closely intertwined with human societies, and historians have long studied their role over the centuries. In the modern era, armies continued to rely heavily on horses and mules for cavalry, artillery, logistics, and engineering. Beyond warfare, even in times of peace, the increasing demand for equine resources led to intense debates and policies aimed at boosting horse populations. As a result, many countries experienced a "horse question," which the articles in this issue analyze through emblematic case studies. The articles in this section specifically focus on military horse supply systems and their impact on equine markets and production in both peacetime and wartime. Key topics include equine policies, institutional structures designed to ensure adequate domestic production, import/export dynamics, competition between military and civilian uses, and controversies over the scarcity or inadequacy of military horses for agriculture, urban services, and transportation.