Transhumant Vlach Shepherding in Dalmatia and its Influence on Natural Environment in the Early 19th Century as Perceived by French

This article aims to show how the traditional pastoral economy practiced by a large part of Dalmatian society was perceived by the French administration in Dalmatia, which became part of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in 1806 and of the Illyrian Provinces in 1809. The analysis is based on the documents of the French National Archives and the French Ministry of Defense, which were created for the use of Napoleon's civil and military authorities. Within this context, the study focuses on the specific issue of how traditional pastoralism affected the Dalmatian environment. The findings indicate that, although the Morlachs might appear to be the least likely group associated with environmentally harmful practices, French administrative documents clearly suggest otherwise. These sources portray the Morlachs as suffering from famine due to the barrenness of the land—an outcome attributed to their own actions, such as burning grasslands, uprooting vegetation, and excessive deforestation. The Morlachs failed to recognize their own role in causing the degradation that led to their misery.