History Research Articles

Writing Life, Writing Time, Writing the Mother

This article focuses on Ernaux’s later life memories of a twentieth century daughter-mother relationship, rendered in the light of this era’s historical transformations and its tensions between individual freedom and collective "fate," and between pre- and post 1968 conceptions of a fulfilled life. It refers to Ernaux’s most monumental work of self-writing, Les Années (2008) and this book’s links to what she has previously written in remembrance of her mother. The purpose is to investigate how these works seek to come to terms with, not only the loss of a mother, but also the narrator’s own aging. Ernaux exemplifies the adult daughter-senescent mother relationship in ways that are characteristic for her generation of women and suggestive of general historical changes in human relationships in Western societies since 1968. Can Ernaux’s writing provide, in the terms of Kathleen Woodward, “cultural models of older women as a way of generating alternative futures for ourselves”? Or does it fail to reconciliate the stereotypical binary of female aging as either graceful or awful, conveying tabooed aspects of old age that need to be brought to light, and even more urgently so in a socio-cultural context privileging youthfulness, individualism and uncertain human bonds? Keywords: Annie Ernaux, The Years; aging daughter-mother relationship; filiation narratives; auto-socio-biography; memory and time; autonomy and dependency; social exclusion; abjection and purification.

The historical transformation of individual concepts into populational ones: an explanatory shift in the gestation of the modern synthesis.

In this paper, I will conduct three interrelated analyses. First, I will develop an analysis of various concepts in the history of biology that used to refer to individual-level phenomena but were then reinterpreted by the Modern Synthesis in terms of populations. Second, a similar situation can be found in contemporary evolutionary theory. While different approaches reflect on the causal role of developing organisms in evolution, proponents of the Modern Synthesis refrain from any substantial change by reinterpreting and explaining individual-level phenomena from a population perspective. Finally, I will approach these historical and contemporary debates by arguing for the statistical reading of natural selection, which holds that explanations by natural selection are statistical. My main conclusion is that the historical conceptual reinterpretations belong to a new explanatory strategy developed by the Modern Synthesis based on population thinking. Adopting the statistical point of view has three advantages for the issues discussed in this paper. First, understanding historical conceptual change as part of an explanatory shift fits with the emergence of population biology as a discipline that employs statistical methods. Second, concerning current debates in evolutionary biology, the statisticalist reading can validate the goal of both sides of the dispute. It ascribes an invaluable role to the population statistical explanation of the MS and also commends the study of developmental and organismal causes of adaptive evolution. Finally, the division of explanatory roles in evolutionary biology, embarrassed by statisticalism, can be related to the different interpretations that important biological concepts have undergone throughout history and contemporary biology, i.e., that the division of explanatory roles allows for a division of conceptual interpretations.

Factors and Consequences of the Battle between the Seljuks and the Ghaznavids at Dandanqan

Afghanistan, our wonderful country, has a glorious past. Many great men and heroes have been nurtured in this ancient land, leaving valuable contributions in the golden pages of our country's history, which society and the nation take pride in. Among them, we can mention the invaluable services of Sultan Mahmood of Ghaznawi in the political and cultural fields of the country. As soon as he became powerful, he made all possible attempts to broaden his territory. Although the establishment of the independent and grand Ghaznavid state is attributed to Alp-Tegin, its glory is linked to Sabuktigin, especially his son, Sultan Mahmud of Gaznavi. After the fall of the Samani state, Mahmood stepped in, restored the lost state, and founded a vast empire. He worked to strengthen the internal unity of the country by defeating his internal rivals and making comprehensive efforts to implement his various plans. Among his plans and programs was the invasion of India, which he pursued with strong determination and achieved numerous successes. The purpose of this research paper is to examine the factors influencing Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi's military campaigns in India, his focus on conquests and expansion, the spread of the Islamic religion in non-Islamic lands, and the elevation of religion and the economy during this period. Research has various methods and approaches. This research paper has been prepared with the library research method and by using the most reliable historical books with complete integrity. In conclusion, we can say that Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi established a central government in India, spread Islamic culture and religion there, and obtained significant economic gains and wealth from the conquest and occupation of India.

A 28-time-point cropland area change dataset in Northeast China from 1000 to 2020

Abstract. Based on historical documents, population data, published results, remote sensing data products, statistical data, and survey data, this study reconstructed the cropland area and the spatial pattern changes at 28 time points from 1000 to 2020 in Northeast China. The period from 1000 to 1600 corresponds to historical provincial-level administrative districts, while the period from 1700 to 2020 corresponds to modern county-level administrative districts. The main findings are as follows: (1) the cropland in Northeast China exhibited phase changes of expansion–reduction–expansion over the past millennium. (2) The cropland area in Northeast China increased from 0.55×104 km2 in 1000 to 37.90×104 km2 in 2020, and the average cropland fraction increased from 0.37 % to 26.27 %; (3) from 1000 to 1200, the cropland area exhibited an increasing trend, which peaked in 1200. The scope of land reclamation was comparable to modern times, but the overall cropland fraction remained low. The cropland area significantly decreased between 1300 and 1600, with the main land reclamation area being reduced southward into Liaoning province. From 1700 to 1850, the cropland area increased slowly and the agricultural reclamation gradually expanded northward. After 1850, there was almost exponential growth, with the cropland area continuously expanding to the whole study area, and this growth trend persists until 2020; (4) the dataset of changes in the cropland of administrative districts in Northeast China, reconstructed based on multiple data sources and improved historical cropland reconstruction methods, significantly enhances time resolution and reliability. Additionally, the dataset shows relatively better credibility assessment results, which can provide a refined database for historical land use and land cover change (LUCC) dataset reconstruction, carbon emission estimation, climate data construction, etc. The dataset can be downloaded from https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25450468.v2 (Jia et al., 2024).

The Historical Change, Evolutionary Logic and Dynamic Mechanism of China's Major Enrollment System

The general enrollment system is a hot issue in the field of higher education reform. And the scientific cognition of its historical evolution, internal logic and dynamic mechanism is helpful to promote the reform of China's undergraduate enrollment system. From the perspective of historical institutionalism, the evolution of Chinese enrollment categories can be divided into four major historical stages: historical gestation, preliminary exploration, rapid rise and in-depth development. Tracing the hidden institutional logic behind the policy, it is found that the initial conditions, positive feedback mechanism and mindset make the change of the major enrollment system have a strong path dependence. In terms of dynamic mechanism, politics, economy and society constitute the basic factors of institutional change; learning effect, adaptive expectation and resource optimization orientation constitute the internal driving force of self-strengthening in the system; and the interest game among various action subjects constitutes the direct driving force of institutional change. In the future, the major enrollment system will accelerate the comprehensive reform of higher education through the three aspects of deepening rational practice examination, enhancing cross-cultivation and exploration, and promoting the transformation of human-oriented management, so as to enable the connotative development of higher education.

Connecting Past to Present: Does Historical Redlining Affect Current Life Expectancy?

Previous research has documented a strong relationship between currently living in the redlined zones of the 1930s and suffering from a higher prevalence of disease. However, little is known about the relationship between historical redlining, modern-day redlining, and current resident health outcomes. This paper aimed to simultaneously model the associations between both historical redlining and modern-day redlining on current health outcomes. In this paper, we used structural equation modeling to uncover relationships between current and historical redlining practices and modern-day life expectancy, exploring two levels of potential mediating factors: (1) racial segregation and structural racism; and (2) mediating health outcomes. We analyzed data from 11,661 census tracts throughout the United States using historical redlining data from 1940, modern redlining data from 2010 to 2017, racial segregation and structural racism indices from 2010 to 2019, health outcome data from 2021 to 2022, and life expectancy data from 2010 to 2015. Historical redlining was measured using Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) ratings, which ranged from 1.0 for favorable neighborhoods ("greenlined") to 4.0 for unfavorable ("redlined") neighborhoods. Modern-day redlining was measured using Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data, which were transformed into four quartiles, ranging from level 1 (low mortgage rejection rates) to level 4 (high mortgage rejection rates). We found a significant relationship between historic redlining and current life expectancy, with average life expectancy decreasing steadily from 80.7 years in HOLC 1 tracts to 75.7 years in HOLC 4 tracts, a differential of 5.0 years between the greenlined and redlined tracts. We also found a significant relationship between modern-day redlining and current life expectancy, with average life expectancy decreasing steadily from 79.9 years in HMDA 1 tracts to 73.5 years in HMDA 4 tracts, a differential of 6.4 years. In the structural equation model, historical redlining had a total effect of decreasing life expectancy by 1.18 years for each increase of one in the HOLC rating. Modern-day redlining had a total effect of decreasing life expectancy by 1.89 years for each increase of one in the HMDA quartile. This paper provides new evidence that the legacy of redlining is not relegated to the history books but rather is a present and pressing public health issue today.

Distribution and Preservation of Total Organic Carbon and Total Inorganic Carbon in Pipahai Lake over the Past Century

Carbon burial patterns in lakes and their dynamic changes significantly impact terrestrial carbon sink fluxes and global carbon budgets. In this study, multi-indicator analysis of sediment core samples (P1, P2, and P3) from Pipahai Lake was conducted. Integrating the chronological sequences of 210Pb and 137Cs, we identified the historical changes and spatial characteristics of total organic carbon (TOC) and inorganic carbon (TIC) burial in Pipahai Lake since 1884. The results show that the TOC content was higher than that of the TIC. They exhibited an increasing trend with decreasing depth. Linear regression results indicated that the variation of TOC is less directly affected by precipitation (R = 0.39) and temperature (R = 0.58), while temperature may have a greater impact on TOC. From 1884 to 1995, nutrients were not the primary factor influencing changes in TOC. The synchronous variation in TIC and TOC contents reflects a higher contribution of external inputs to carbon burial in the Pipahai Lake basin. After 1996, nutrients may have begun to affect variations in TOC. The TOC primarily originates from distal aeolian transport or autochthonous sources, though human activity has played a role in its evolution. The TIC content is controlled by the TOC content and autochthonous sources. This study will contribute to the understanding of the carbon cycling dynamics and their influencing mechanisms in a high-altitude lake ecosystem.

A formal approach to reanalysis and the Early Semantic Stability Hypothesis: exploring the test case of the negative counterfactual marker ʾilmale in Hebrew and Aramaic

Abstract This study delves into the intricate process of reanalysis, wherein linguistic expressions undergo grammatical or semantic changes, or sometimes both. The primary objective of this study is to explore the theoretical aspects surrounding historical changes of this nature. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the topic, we provide a formal description of reanalysis as an analytical tool. Our formal description allows for the differentiation of various change scenarios, enabling us to identify distinct types of shifts from one analysis to another. This approach not only focuses on what has been reanalyzed, be it the morphology, syntax, or the semantics, but also emphasizes the interplay between all three linguistic modules (Form, Grammar, and Meaning) and their relationships. This holistic perspective enables a systematic examination of the significance of what remains constant at both points in time during the reanalysis process. The key insight arising from this analysis leads us to propose and substantiate the Early Semantic Stability Hypothesis. This hypothesis posits that the truth-conditional semantics of the original proposition remain unchanged throughout reanalysis, either in all contexts or in specific “bridging contexts” where the reanalysis occurs. To demonstrate these phenomena, we present a compelling test case, focusing on the development of the counterfactual conditional marker ʾilmale in Hebrew and Aramaic. Through a detailed examination of the syntactic and semantic reanalyses it underwent, we observe the emergence of unique semantic features. By adopting a formal semantic perspective, we address fundamental questions such as the level of ambiguity required for reanalysis to take place, the potential existence of universal constraints on reanalysis, and potential motivations driving these linguistic changes. This investigation provides valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms at play during reanalysis and contributes to the broader understanding of linguistic evolution and development.

Celebrating the contributions of Black nurses to nursing's history.

Kandace Chimbiri, based in London, is the author of several Black history books for children.

Assessing the economic and nutritional value of pollination services in Nepal

Pollination is a key ecosystem service crucial for supporting agricultural production, economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Understanding the economic value of pollination and its impact on human health and nutrition is essential for effective pollinator conservation and management. This study evaluates the economic and nutritional value of pollination services in Nepal and quantifies historic changes in pollinator reliance. Using public data on agricultural production and commodity prices, in combination with published nutritional composition values, we employ the dependency-ratio method to quantify economic and nutritional value across different regions of the country and through time. We conservatively estimate the annual economic value of pollination services in Nepal at US $477 million, representing 9% of total agricultural revenue. Pollinator-dependent crops, particularly fruits and vegetables are the source of essential nutrients; 40% of plant-based vitamin A and 14% of vitamin C are directly attributable to insect pollination. The cultivated area of these pollinator-dependent crops has increased by 91% in Nepal over 20 years – 3.7 times faster than equivalent increases in non-pollinator-dependent crops. The decline in wild pollinators during the same time period poses a threat, leading to potential pollination deficits and crop losses. Our study underscores the importance of conserving and managing pollinators to ensure sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Targeted efforts, including policy interventions and conservation strategies, are needed to safeguard pollinator populations and enhance pollination services.

A Global Analysis of Historical and Future Changes in Mediterranean Climate‐Type Regions

ABSTRACTMediterranean climate‐type regions (MCRs) are characterised by warm‐to‐hot dry summers and mild‐wet winters. These regions are typically found on the western or southern edges of continents, for example, in the Mediterranean Basin, the west coast of North and South America, southern Africa and southwest Australia. The MCRs are vulnerable to climate variability and change related to their unique characteristics, such as pronounced rainfall seasonality and prolonged hot and dry summers. Based on historical observations and CMIP6 climate projections, we apply an empirical bio‐climatic assessment of how the geographic distribution of MCRs has changed during the last century and how these zones will be further impacted under continued warming. Results indicate a poleward and eastward expansion of MCRs in the Mediterranean Basin, North America‐California and South America‐Central Chile regions. For parts of Southern Africa and Southern Australia, a retreat of the MCR margins and an expansion of more arid climate zones are projected. These shifts are particularly profound according to high emission and radiative forcing pathways and future scenarios. The warming in MCRs is projected to accelerate (e.g., mean regional warming of up to 5.5°C under a 4°C global warming scenario), and precipitation will decrease by about 5%–10% for every additional degree of global warming. One exception is the California MCR, where rainfall will likely increase. Such changes can challenge water resources, food security and other aspects of human livelihood and ecosystems in these unique geographical zones.

Performance Evaluation of CMIP6 Climate Model Projections for Precipitation and Temperature in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

The projection and identification of historical and future changes in climatic systems is crucial. This study aims to assess the performance of CMIP6 climate models and projections of precipitation and temperature variables over the Upper Blue Nile Basin (UBNB), Northwestern Ethiopia. The bias in the CMIP6 model data was adjusted using data from meteorological stations. Additionally, this study uses daily CMIP6 precipitation and temperature data under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for the near (2015–2044), mid (2045–2074), and far (2075–2100) periods. Power transformation and distribution mapping bias correction techniques were used to adjust biases in precipitation and temperature data from seven CMIP6 models. To validate the model data against observed data, statistical evaluation techniques were employed. Mann–Kendall (MK) and Sen’s slope estimator were also performed to identify trends and magnitudes of variations in rainfall and temperature, respectively. The performance evaluation revealed that the INM-CM5-0 and INM-CM4-8 models performed best for precipitation and temperature, respectively. The precipitation projections in all agro-climatic zones under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios show a significant (p < 0.01) positive trend. The mean annual maximum temperature over UBNB is estimated to increase by 1.8 °C, 2.1 °C, and 2.8 °C under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 between 2015 and 2100, respectively. Similarly, the mean annually minimum temperature is estimated to increase by 1.5 °C, 2.1 °C, and 3.1 °C under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5, respectively. These significant changes in climate variables are anticipated to alter the incidence and severity of extremes. Hence, communities should adopt various adaptation practices to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures.

Long-Term Trends in Significant Wave Heights in The Mediterranean as an Indicator of Climate Change

The Mediterranean coastal zones, particularly along the Nile Delta, are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This study examines the historical changes in the significant wave height along the Nile Delta coast over the past 84 years (1940-2023) at a depth of 20 meters. By synthesizing a comprehensive long-term wave data series using ERA5 reanalysis data and the MIKE21-SW model, the study establishes a robust foundation for analysis. To ensure accuracy, the observed wind data were contrasted against ERA5 data, and they were found to be similar to a great extent. Furthermore, the model's accuracy was rigorously validated against the observational data, ensuring the reliability of the results. Three methods were used to obtain the trends for the maximum wave height to ensure robust and reliable trend assessments (i.e., linear regression, Theil-Sen, and ElasticNet). The results were obtained and analyzed, revealing a statistically significant increase in the maximum wave heights during the study period. Particularly, seasonal analysis revealed a positive trend in maximum wave heights during winter and spring (0.15 to 0.67 cm/year respectively). Furthermore, the monthly analysis showed a positive trend in the wave heights for all months except July, August, and September. Specifically, there were notable increases from September to December, ranging from 0.24 to 0.92 cm/year. These findings are consistent with the global trends of increasing wave heights due to climate change. It is essential for developing adaptive coastal management strategies and designing resilient structures. Consequently, the results will assist coastal authorities in mitigating the impacts of climate change on coastal zones.

Andrew Walls, the Pandemic, and the Reinterpretation of Christian Faith

The recent Covid pandemic may well be introducing historic changes to Christian faith that we cannot yet see. Looking back, we can see religious shifts that occurred in response to the influenza pandemic of 1918, including the rise of new forms of Christian community in Africa. Christian faith, Andrew Walls (1928–2021) saw, is not just something you receive; faith remakes you, and you remake it. Walls urged the Western theological academy to embrace the changes taking place as a result of the shift in the centre of Christian gravity. Going forward, we may be seeing the seeds of change from the pandemic in a more holistic Christian faith, one that emphasizes the evangel for all of creation.

Response of the upper ocean to northeast Pacific atmospheric rivers under climate change

Atmospheric rivers are important transport vehicles for Earth’s water cycle. Using a high-resolution, eddy-resolving Earth System Model, atmospheric river impacts on the upper ocean are investigated by analyzing historical and climate change simulations. For atmospheric rivers along the North American coastline, strong winds cause significant dynamic and thermodynamic upper ocean responses. They push ocean water towards the coast, measured by sea surface height, a process that is amplified under climate change. Mixed layers are deeper upstream of atmospheric rivers, and shallower downstream, however for climate change, shoaling downstream is subdued. Air-sea heat fluxes tend to promote ocean cooling upstream and warming downstream, although different regions have different climate change heat flux signals. Southern California heat flux changes due to warming are driven by evaporative processes and strengthen the ocean responses seen in historical simulations. The regions north are primarily dominated by sensible heat flux changes and counter the historical patterns.

Predicting genetic biodiversity in salamanders using geographic, climatic, and life history traits.

The geographic distribution of genetic variation within a species reveals information about its evolutionary history, including responses to historical climate change and dispersal ability across various habitat types. We combine genetic data from salamander species with geographic, climatic, and life history data collected from open-source online repositories to develop a machine learning model designed to identify the traits that are most predictive of unrecognized genetic lineages. We find evidence of hidden diversity distributed throughout the clade Caudata that is largely the result of variation in climatic variables. We highlight some of the difficulties in using machine-learning models on open-source data that are often messy and potentially taxonomically and geographically biased.

Tribute VS "Nanman": The Image Construction of "Magic Mirror Type"

For over 2000 years, feudal dynasties throughout China have referred to southerners as the “Nanman” (means Southern Barbarian). However, the specific situation of the treatment of Nanman titles by various dynasties has not been explored. In addition, the Nanman never stopped paying tribute to the Central Dynasty. No one is involved in whether tribute can earn the respect that the dynasty deserves. Nowadays, big data technology can easily handle massive amounts of literature, and it is entirely possible to analyze the above issues from "official histories" (the 25 historical books) using the method of word frequency research. The words frequency shows that since the unification of Lingnan by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the feudal dynasties presented a paradox to Lingnan: The products in Lingnan were coveted, and local customs were despised. "Tribute" was used to cover up the predatory nature of Kings, and "Nanman" was used to establish political, national and cultural rank. The number of "tribute" and the meaning of "Nanman" formed the "magic mirror" development relationship in the big tree of feudal autocracy until the end of the Qing Dynasty. But on the one hand, the positive factors of "tribute" were absorbed and used by the western powers to establish their own alliances. On the other hand, they also mislead the public opinion and create trouble. Although "Nanman" has been eradicated politically, the regional discrimination and cultural misreading it contains have not been eradicated and often occurs. "Tribute" ranges from Kyushu to overseas to international relations. The connotation of "Nanman" from the orientation, nation and culture, the meaning of these two words has been spontaneously changing. It is timely to clarify their relationship and help make China revive.

Difficulties In Assisting Students With Special Educational Needs In Armenian Schools During History Lessons

Inclusive education in Armenia has changed quite much over the years, which were stipulated by various historical, socio-political, and economic changes. The system of inclusive education is oriented toward mainstreaming students with special needs into the common educational process in schools with an equal attitude toward providing all of them with appropriate education. This study is aimed at analyzing the present situation, obstacles, and management peculiarities of inclusive education in Armenia during the History lesson from the viewpoint of the history teachers. Within this frame, the current study used qualitative research methodology as a content-based approach to combine thought, emotions, ideas, and attitudes. It was intended to understand the experiences of history teachers in working with students with special educational needs and go deep to have a richer understanding of the research question. The findings of the study revealed that Armenian inclusive schools are facing various challenges in appropriately supporting students with special educational needs in the History learning environment. These areas of difficulty involve inadequate teaching differentiation to cater to the different learning needs, failure to cope with various students' comprehension levels, and lack of one-on-one attention in a mainstream class. Inadequate resource provision, limited teacher training, and poor specialized support complicate the effective delivery of history education for such learners even further.

African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the Contemporary Era: A Historical Reflection in Sukuma Land, Tanzania

This paper examined the Sukuma indigenous knowledge systems, which have for centuries been practiced by the Sukuma people of Tanzania. The study identified the Sukuma indigenous knowledge systems practiced in the contemporary era in Sukumaland. The study used the Transformative Learning Theory as an analytical tool to learn the Sukuma indigenous knowledge systems. The study used both primary and secondary sources of data. Data was gathered from Sukuma Custodians of indigenous knowledge systems and Bujora Sukuma Museum Curator through interviews to identify and different Sukuma indigenous knowledge systems. Documentary review sources such as Sukuma history books, journal articles, research papers and online sources were also used to supplement other sources. Findings revealed that Sukuma people still embrace and practice their indigenous knowledge in various aspects of life, such as health, religious beliefs, leadership, environment, numerical and mathematics. Some of the recommendations are that African custodians of indigenous knowledge systems should continue retaining, practicing, valuing and handling over the Sukuma culture to the next generation for the welfare and sustainability of Africans.

Конструирование исторической памяти о революции 1917 года в школьных учебниках Азербайджанской республики (2018–2023 годы)

The paper deals with the main conceptual approaches to the presentation of the events of the February and October stages of the 1917 Revolution in the school textbooks of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Considerable attention is paid to the national component of the 1917 Revolution – the formation of the First Republic (Azerbaijan Democratic Republic) and the Second Republic (Azerbaijan SSR). The content of textbooks on academic subjects “History of Azerbaijan” for grades 5, 9, 11 and “General History” for grades 9, 11 published in 2018 - 2023 was analyzed.