19th 20th Centuries Research Articles

Study on the Cross-cultural Acceptance and Influence of Dickens' Literary Works

This research is entitled "The Reception and Effect of Charles Dickens' Works in cross-cultural Communication", which can analyze the reception of Dickens' works in China and its deep penetration into Chinese society, culture and literature in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. Focusing on the period from 1895 to 1915, when Western ideas flooded into the land of China, Dickens, one of the leading figures in Western literature, whose passages were translated into China, immediately triggered profound reverberations. This paper begins with an overview of the initial transformation of Dickens' works in the Chinese environment, and studies the translation methods, publication history, and the reaction and experience of the early readers. Further, by depicting the Chinese society from 1895 to 1915, it reveals how Dickens's works interwoven dialogue with the ideological changes in China at that time, especially insight into how the intellectual elite reflected on and challenged the established social structure with Diellet's words, and further promoted social changes. Then this study also focuses on the localization process of Dickens' works in the Chinese cultural circle, focusing on the reshaping of themes, the adaptation of literary techniques and narrative techniques, and the driving force of these variations on the evolution of modern Chinese literature. Finally, individual texts such as Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities are analyzed to deepen the insight of illusion and innovation in cross-cultural communication. The conclusion shows that China's absorption of Dickens goes beyond mere literary transaction, and actually reflects the confrontation and fusion of the blend of Chinese and Western. These imported works not only broadened the Chinese people's vision of literature and art, but also boosted the modernization of Chinese society and brought new vitality to the prosperity of Chinese literature. This study contributes a new view into the Sino-English cultural intersection in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and also provides a valuable reference for further research on the acceptance and influence of cross-cultural literature.

Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Weights from the Ephesus Museum

This article, part of the Corpus Ponderum Antiquorum et Islamicorum (= CPAI ) project, introduces 302 balance weights from the collection of the Ephesus Museum, located in Selçuk (Efes), İzmir. The majority of the weights are made of lead, with a smaller number made of bronze. Among these, 115 weights follow the Greek system, while 187 belong to the Roman system, of which some are classified as Byzantine weights. The find spots of these weights are primarily in and around Selçuk and nearby archaeological sites, providing important data for their provenance or attribution. Although some weights bear ethnics, most only feature unit marks; however, their find spots enable accurate attribution. The Roman system weights, especially the librae, range from the theoretical 12 unciae to as much as 25 unciae, indicating adjustments over time due to inflation and devaluation. Among the Byzantine weights, the glass ones, dating from the 5th to 7th centuries AD, are also notable for the monograms they bear. Additionally, a weight made from a coin dates to the 10th-11th centuries AD.

The Role Of The Press In Shaping Public Opinion During The Freedom Struggle

The role of the press during the freedom struggle was instrumental in shaping public opinion and galvanizing the masses against colonial oppression. As India sought independence from British rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, newspapers, journals, and pamphlets emerged as vital tools for disseminating nationalist ideas and fostering political awareness. The press not only reported on events but also provided a platform for political discourse, allowing voices from diverse communities to contribute to the independence narrative. Great figures such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, and other leaders utilized the press to articulate their visions for a free India, framing the struggle in terms of justice and self-determination. Newspapers like "The Hindu," "The Times of India," and "The Tribune" played crucial roles in informing the public about the injustices of colonial rule, inspiring a collective consciousness among various strata of society. Editorials, articles, and letters to the editor encouraged civic engagement and mobilized support for protests, strikes, and other forms of resistance. The press faced significant challenges, including censorship and repression from colonial authorities, which often sought to suppress dissenting voices. Despite these obstacles, many journalists and editors risked their safety to publish revolutionary ideas and expose the realities of British exploitation. This resilience illustrated the press's commitment to truth and justice, fostering an environment where public sentiment could coalesce around the freedom movement. The emergence of vernacular publications further broadened the reach of nationalist sentiments, ensuring that the message of independence resonated across linguistic and cultural divides. These publications played a crucial role in educating the masses and instilling a sense of pride and identity that transcended regional differences. The press was not merely a bystander but a catalyst in the freedom struggle, shaping public opinion and uniting diverse groups against colonial rule. Its influence extended beyond immediate political outcomes, contributing to the formation of a national consciousness that would endure long after independence was achieved. This study highlights the indispensable role of the press in the socio-political landscape of the freedom struggle, illustrating its enduring legacy in contemporary society.

The relationship between cause of death and skeletal markers of physiological stress in the Hamann-Todd collection.

Socioeconomic status, past stress events, and other factors may contribute to the cumulative burden of physiological stress, which influences an individual's susceptibility to mortality and cause of death (COD). Here, we explore the association between skeletal evidence of stress and COD in the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection (HTOC), a predominantly low socioeconomic status sample from the late 19th and early 20th century. Skeletal markers of stress including linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH), stature, and antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) were analyzed in 298 individuals in the HTOC. Recorded CODs were grouped into six broad categories and contrasted with stress indicators, ages-at-death, and demographic variables, using various parametric and non-parametric statistical tests. COD varied by socially ascribed race and sex within the sample. Overall, infectious diseases were more prevalent than degenerative diseases. Individuals that died of infectious diseases had significantly lower ages-at-death compared to degenerative diseases (p < 0.001). There was no association between LEH and COD (χ2 = 4.449, p = 0.487). Stature varied significantly across COD categories for males (F = 2.534, p = 0.032), but not females (F = 1.733, p = 0.132). Controlling for age-at-death, AMTL prevalence was associated with COD (H = 18.53, p = 0.002), with cardiovascular disease being associated with higher prevalence of AMTL. These findings show that some skeletal stress indicators are associated with COD in the HTOC, but the causal pathways of these relationships are not clear. This study adds to growing bodies of literature exploring relationships between past stress events and susceptibility to mortality and long-term consequences of poor living conditions for past individuals.

«National historiographies» on the history of Russia in the 16th–18th centuries, published in the Hungarian journal «RussianStudiesHu»

In 2021 and 2022, review articles on the latest international historiography on the history of Russia in the 16th-18th centuries were published in the Hungarian online scientific journal on historical Russian studies RussianStudiesHu. The journal issues also introduce readers to new research by Russian historians, but in this article I will primarily focus on the current state of Russian studies about the 16th-18th centuries in Central, Eastern and Western Europe and the United States. In review articles on the history of Russia from 1462-1689, historians from Hungary, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States, as well as French-speaking scholars, call this period of Russian history the "late medieval", "pre-modern" or "early modern" era. Some researchers argue that until the mid-17th century, Muscovy had little in common with European states. And based on review articles of international historiography, it can be established that the central figures of the historiography of the 18th century in almost every country are Peter I and Catherine II, and there is still no consensus regarding the periodization of Russian history in the 18th century.

Study of Toned Photographs of the Late 19th and Early 20th Century Using Multispectral Imaging and SEM/EDS Analysis

Abstract Toned photographs became popular in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century, either as stand-alone photographic images or as part of representative cards such as cabinet cards or cartes de visite. Still, further research is desirable to deepen our understanding about materials and techniques that had been used to create toned photographs. This study focusses on toning processes and is based on the analysis of 16 historical photographs from that period. To understand the toning process, information was collected from historical literature, while multispectral techniques and SEM/EDS analysis were applied to the sixteen photographs. Multispectral techniques, both macroscopic and microscopic, provide valuable information on surface and texture, damage phenomena and the photograph’s stratigraphy. SEM/EDS analysis yields information on the elements found in the studied photographs and their stratigraphy. This combination of the evaluation of historical written sources and scientific analysis provided an insight into the materials and techniques used in the toning of photographs.

Coffee in the Russian literature of the 18th and early 19th centuries

In the article, coffee is analyzed as one of the aspects of the cultural code of the Russian society in the 18th century. The historical context of the adaptation of coffee in Russia is also reconstructed. The purpose of the research is to reveal the semantic features of coffee in the texts of Russian authors of the 18th – early 19th centuries. Through semantic and comparative analysis of the coffee theme in the texts of A. Kantemir, G. Derzhavin, Catherine II, I. Krylov, V. Kuchelbecker and others, the range of meanings of the beverage and the context of using the word coffee is determined: from a negative attribute of the aristocracy to a positive ‘inspiration elixir’. The connections between coffee and the social status of the character are also investigated.

Interfaith relations in the Tobolsk province in the late 19th century and early 20th century

Interfaith relations in the Tobolsk province in the late 19th century and early 20th century

A geographic and social profile of Italy's great migration (1876–1913)

AbstractThis article sheds light on Italian emigration flows with a focus on their geographical origins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that is, during the so‐called Great Migration. Annual province‐level data on Italian emigration are analysed in order to reconstruct the regional origins of emigrants, the factors motivating their decisions, their gender, and their literacy levels. The regions generating the largest population outflows were located in the North of the country. Despite the literature's focus on the Italian south diaspora to the US, the main destinations of Italian emigration in this period were other European countries. Explanations focusing on economic factors as emigration drivers prove weak. The provinces generating the greatest outflows do not appear to share any characteristics nor obey any underlying pattern: some tentative explanations concerning provinces of origin will be offered. Data relating to the emigration of women and children point to the central role of nuclear families, displaying a higher rate of growth compared to overall emigration, with peaks during the migration booms to Latin America (1890s) and the United States (1905–1907). No obvious connection emerges between emigrant outflow size and literacy levels: people migrated from the literate North as well as from the more impoverished regions featuring much lower literacy levels.

Revolutionizing medicine: Recent developments and future prospects in stem-cell therapy.

Stem-cell therapy is a revolutionary frontier in modern medicine, offering enormous capacity to transform the treatment landscape of numerous debilitating illnesses and injuries. This review examines the revolutionary frontier of treatments utilizing stem cells, highlighting the distinctive abilities of stem cells to undergo regeneration and specialized cell differentiation into a wide variety of phenotypes. This paper aims to guide researchers, physicians, and stakeholders through the intricate terrain of stem-cell therapy, examining the processes, applications, and challenges inherent in utilizing stem cells across diverse medical disciplines. The historical journey from foundational contributions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to recent breakthroughs, including ESC isolation and iPSC discovery, has set the stage for monumental leaps in medical science. Stem cells' regenerative potential spans embryonic, adult, induced pluripotent, and perinatal stages, offering unprecedented therapeutic opportunities in cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular ailments, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, and tissue damage. However, difficulties, such as immunological rejection, tumorigenesis, and precise manipulation of stem-cell behavior, necessitate comprehensive exploration and innovative solutions. This manuscript summarizes recent biotechnological advancements, critical trial evaluations, and emerging technologies, providing a nuanced understanding of the triumphs, difficulties, and future trajectories in stem cell-based regenerative medicine. Future directions, including precision medicine integration, immune modulation strategies, advancements in gene-editing technologies, and bioengineering synergy, offer a roadmap in stem cell treatment. The focus on stem-cell therapy's potential highlights its significant influence on contemporary medicine and points to a future in which individualized regenerative therapies will alleviate various medical disorders.

Hysterical Women: The Fight for an Expanded British Franchise at the Turn of the 20th Century

This project argues that in the United Kingdom at the turn of the 20th century, social and medical claims of female hysteria worked as a way of confining women to the domestic sphere. To explore the social implications of feminine hysteria in this region, the medical legitimacy of these claims is analyzed through looking at the texts of various surgeon generals of the late 19th and early 20th centuries while placing them in conjunction with the rapidly changing world. This world was filled with suppressors who worked toward maintaining established social norms. The group analyzed in this project, women, were most prominently suppressed through the negative rhetorical use of medical terms such as female hysteria in pursuit of maintaining the status quo of the early 1800s. This umbrella term was historically used to describe any and all afflictions of women but morphed into ammunition for medical professionals and the general public alike to contain unruly women. This project contextualizes women’s health issues encapsulated by this umbrella term (hysteria) and others with the prevailing thoughts on women’s suffrage of the time to argue the above claim.

From Frozen Ponds to Organized Competitions: The Growth of Skating and Ice Hockey in Korea, 1886–1938

The encounter of American Protestant evangelicalism and Japanese imperialism formed in Korean society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries became a steppingstone for the acceptance of modern winter sports in Korea. In particular, skates introduced by American Protestant missionaries and the Young Men’s Christian Association formed an imaginary space to counter Japanese imperialism in Korea during Japanese colonial era. Ice hockey introduced along with skating is a representative product that evolved in this process. The history of the introduction of American ice hockey to Korea also had a dual imperial influence between the United States and Japan, and in another direction, there was a voluntary acceptance process by Koreans who recognized ice hockey as a modern product.

Trace and Minor Element Analysis of Azurite Blues in Fine Arts: Possibilities and Limitations in Provenance Studies.

Azurite, a historical blue mineral pigment, has previously been described to contain certain elemental impurities. These may originate from host rocks, vein fillings, or the primary copper ore mineralization. In this study, azurites (and also green malachites) from three important Central European deposits with a potential of being exploited for pigment usage already in the Middle Ages have been studied, together with azurite from Chessy, France, with a different geological setting. Using electron probe microanalysis and, more importantly, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy for trace elemental analysis, several indicators were pinpointed as important for provenance: characteristic elemental fingerprint of the deposit, e.g., elevated lead (Pb) in combination with rare earth elements, may be combined with zinc (Zn)/arsenic (As) ratio (indicating sources of excess Zn in the primary deposit) and the overall amount of metal impurities (suggesting the source mineral of copper for azurite formation). In addition, malachites from the same deposits were found to preferentially incorporate primary ore metal elements as well as Cd, Mg, Mn, or U. Therefore, if azurite pigment contains an elevated amount of malachite as an impurity, it may significantly influence the overall elemental composition. The results obtained on geological samples were applied to two micro-samples of works of art containing azurite-rich layers originating from the 13th-14th and 16th centuries. It was shown that it is highly beneficial to focus on the overall trace elemental composition of the paint layer and not on the admixed mineral grains, as their presence, especially in minute micro-samples, is largely accidental and thus not representative. Although a higher number of samples need to be studied in the future, the newly described criteria made it possible to exclude some of the localities of the employed azurite pigment. This confirmed the key importance of trace elements analysis of mineral pigments for the provenance studies of fine arts.

“THE SERMON ON THE DEC EASED” BY HRYHORII TSAMBLAK: RECENSIONS, POETICS, AND STYLE

The copy of “The Sermon on the Deceased” by Hryhorii Tsamblak, preserved in the library of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, was written in the 16th or early 17th century at the Belarusian Suprasl Monastery. This sermon is a part of the so-called “Hryhorii Tsamblak’s Book,” which may have been compiled by the author himself during his tenure as Kyivan metropolitan. The examined copy of the “The Sermon on the Deceased” and the copy of the same work kept in the scientific library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences in Vilnius are of Belarusian origin and differ significantly from the copies created in the Moscow principality. Therefore, it can be assumed that the Kyiv and Vilnius codices originate from a common protograph that was modified either by the author himself or by a scribe in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In “The Sermon on the Deceased,” Hryhorii Tsamblak shares his thoughts on the Christian custom of commemorating the dead. The preacher optimistically proclaims an eschatological perspective for Christians. The didactic purpose of Tsamblak’s sermon is to illuminate the futility of earthly concerns and efforts. The ontological perspective for the righteous pertains to the hope of the resurrection of the dead and eternal life. Based on numerous examples of human activity, such as the hard lives of warriors, farmers, sailors, and ore miners, the preacher attempts to illustrate the concept of “the vanity of vanities” and “the hurricane of human life that passes quickly.” Tsamlak argues that the Christian’s axiology should oppose the cult of enrichment, power, and vanity. Metaphorically and symbolically, he portrays the work of a farmer hoping for a good harvest, which represents the imperishable — eternal life in Christ. “The Sermon on the Deceased” was influenced by the sermons of John Chrysostom and, probably, by one of the works of Macarius the Great. The style of Tsamblak’s sermon can be defined as emotionally expressive.

The Economic Life of Sevastopol During the Late 18th and Early 19th Centuries

The Economic Life of Sevastopol During the Late 18th and Early 19th Centuries

Who are the people of Cyprus? The national identity building process in Cyprus from the late 19th to the early 20th century

Abstract This article offers a nuanced examination of the complex identity dynamics among the Christian and Muslim communities in Cyprus during the late 19th and early 20th century, particularly in the aftermath of British administration replacing Ottoman rule in 1878. The article draws attention to the profound impact of this historical transition on the identity formation processes of both communities. Despite the shared wartime experience of the First World War, the Christian and Muslim communities in Cyprus failed to construct a cohesive identity rooted in their common geographical space. Drawing on Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of ambivalence, the article explores the complex process by which Cypriot communities sought to align their identity with larger nations, namely Greece and Turkey, rather than grounding it in their local context. The article contends that the genesis of their ambivalence can be traced back to 1878 when British administration replaced Ottoman rule on the island.

New group of glazed Anatolian Pottery from the Ottoman fortress of Azak

The article introduces a new group of glazed pottery of Anatolian production from the archaeological studies of different years (1962, 2004, 2020) on the territory of the former Ottoman fortress of Azak in the North-Eastern Azov Region. Among the finds, there are 20 fragments of open shaped vessels (bowls, plates) and one fragment of the lid which originate from redeposited cultural layer of the site dated back to the late Middle Ages – Modern period. Close analogies can be found on the Crimean peninsula in the materials from the excavations in Sudak, Aluston, Cembalo, Mangup, Partenit, Biyuk-Lambat (Maly Mayak), and Chufut-Kale where they are generally dated by the last quarter of 15th–17th century AD, as well as in South-Western Georgia (Gonio fortress in Adjara) and on the Taman Peninsula (the Taman fortified settlement) in the cultural layer of the 16th–17th centuries AD. Production centre for this group of Ottoman pottery has not yet been established. The group got its conventional name ‘thick-walled bichrome bowls’ due to the dominant archaeological remains of thick-walled bowls with the characteristic decor style in the Crimea.

Sources of Silver in North-Eastern Rus in the 10th–13th centuries ad according to lead isotope analysis

The article discusses the results of lead isotope analysis of 54 silver objects from the 9th–13th centuries AD from rural sites of Suzdal Opolye and villages around Murom. As a result of comparing the obtained data with the available databases for Pb-Pb isotopic values of archaeological objects from various collections and ore samples, it was established that in the second half of the 10th – early 11th century AD, Samanid dirhams were used in Opolye as a raw material for jewellery making. In the 11th century, silver from European sources began to flow into the region via the Baltic, becoming dominant by the end of the century. In Opolye and Murom of the 12th century, adornments were made from European raw materials.

Forest, Bandits, and State: Some Measures Taken against the Use of Forests as Illegal Activity Areas in the Ottoman Empire (16th-18th centuries)

Forest, Bandits, and State: Some Measures Taken against the Use of Forests as Illegal Activity Areas in the Ottoman Empire (16th-18th centuries)

Lay Religious Associations in Extractive Zones: A Case Study of Diamantina, Brazil

This article considers religion in extractive zones by focusing on a religious practice in an extractive zone, namely, an Afro-Brazilian Irmandade (Catholic lay religious association) devoted to Our Lady of Mercy in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It adopts approaches from history and cultural studies to examine art, architecture, archives, and material culture, and brings these methodologies into conversation with Mary Louis Pratt’s notion of contact zones, Charles Long’s connection between these zones and new religious practices, Eduardo Gudynas’ definition of extraction, and Macarena Gómez-Barris’ decolonial methodologies for approaching the study of extractive zones. This study is contextualized in the history of mining in Brazil, the connection between mining and enslavement of Africans in the Americas, and the enduring legacy of lay religious associations in Brazil. The article then examines the association’s church, focusing on its late 18th and early 19th century façade and the statues at its main altar, and its 19th and 20th century maintenance records. It suggests that the Irmandades are engaged in a unique religious practice that arises within an extractive region because of specific historical, political, and social reasons, and that they give their members a place within the existing structures even as they challenge them.