Shepherd

Shepherd is a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep. Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 5,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Shepherds are often animals or people who are able to keep the sheep together. The duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to market areas in time for shearing. In many societies, shepherds were an important part of the economy.

History

Shepherding began some 5,000 years ago in Asia Minor and gradually spread throughout Europe. It was an occupation that was common in ancient Israel and the ancient Greeks and Romans also had shepherds. In medieval England, shepherding was considered a prestigious occupation due to the importance of wool to the English economy.

Roles

The roles of a shepherd in ancient times included keeping the sheep together (either in a flock or individually), protecting the sheep from predators, and guiding the sheep to market areas in time for shearing. The shepherd also had to make sure that the sheep had enough to eat and drink.

Modern Shepherding

In modern times, shepherding has changed dramatically. Today, shepherds may work on a ranch or farm where the sheep are kept in pens or they may work on a range where the sheep are free to roam over large areas. Some shepherds use dogs to help them herd the sheep.

See Also

• Sheep
• Sheepdog
• Sheep shearing
• Pastoralism

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