Europe’s grumpy farmers are a symptom of wider malaise

It took 120 ships laden with bearded Vikings to besiege Paris in the spring of 845AD. They moved on only after being paid a tribute of 7,000 pounds of silver. In 1870 Prussians required two armies and batteries of cannons to blockade the city, which surrendered after locals grew tired of eating rats, cats, horses and whatever animals could safely be plucked from the zoo.