Faithful, Fierce, and Fashionable: how the Dog became Man’s Best Friend
Details
Across millennia, the dog has occupied many roles in human history—guardian, hunter, worker, companion, and status symbol. This lecture explores the evolving place of the dog in societies around the world, from ancient civilizations to the modern living room.
We will follow the dog’s journey through archaeological evidence, folklore, art, and literature, examining how dogs served as protectors of homes and flocks, companions to emperors and outcasts alike, and even sacred or feared creatures in religious and magical traditions. In medieval Europe, dogs patrolled castles and symbolized loyalty; in the Renaissance, they adorned portraits of nobility; during industrialization, they took on new roles as guide dogs, police dogs, and wartime messengers.
The lecture will also address how the dog’s role mirrored shifting human attitudes toward animals, nature, and class. From working animal to family member, from status icon to emotional support companion—the dog’s story reveals as much about human societies as it does about canines themselves.
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Faithful, Fierce, and Fashionable: how the Dog became Man’s Best Friend