Wool 101

“…nearly all countries contain sheep, and the wool of each possesses distinguishing characteristics, while, as an example of the diversity of wools grown in one country, it may be mentioned that, for the purposes of valuing wool grown in the continent of Australia, it was necessary to draw up a price list containing 848 separate classes.”
Dorothy M. Zimmern. “The Wool Trade in Wartime.”
The Economic Journal. Vol 28, No. 109 (Mar 1918) p.8

What is it about wool that has made it not only an important global trade item for civilian purposes, but vital to military preparedness? Explore here not only the physical properties of wool, but also how sheep husbandry was used historically to manipulate those characteristics, in the interests of breeding sheep that would thrive in new lands and grow wool that would match the needs of mechanized factory production.