Medieval Period Research Articles

Testamentul doamnei Agnes, văduva lui Petrus Moldner din Bistrița (1531)

The last will and testament, situated on the border between oficial and private, becomes a privileged source for the reconstruction of what is generically called „microhistory”. Less studied Transylvanian urban testaments from the medieval and pre-modern periods provide ample support for the identification of the testator's family cosmos, his community of residence, the ties he formed therein, etc. The testament of Mrs. Agnes (1531), the widow of Petrus Moldner, a merchant whose ascension ensured his access to the city council of Bistrița, becomes an important source for the restitution of some aspects of material civilization characteristic of the urban elite, of the interpersonal relationships that family members had established, and not ultimately for outlining the piety that was characteristic of the testator. Heiress to a sizable fortune, Mrs. Agnes donated it primarily to save her own soul at a time when the religious Reformation is also felt in Bistrița. This fact caused the „reaction” of 19th century historians, who were astounded by this woman's adherence to the values of the Catholic Church. Beyond the already existing rivalries, the magistrate's objection reflectes the lay authority's attempt to halt these donations pro salute anime, in accordance with the Saxon University's ruling in 1525 and the new reforming atmosphere.

The history of the study of the Turkic monuments of Saryarka

The Early Medieval period is one of the least studied historical periods of Saryarka in archaeological terms.The current situation is aggravated by the lack of direct written information about this rather long period of time, covering an entire millennium. The eventful epoch begins in the middle of the VI century, with the annexation of the lands of Central Kazakhstan, as well as Semirechye and Khorezm to the Turkic Khaganate.The beginning of the research of Early Medieval monuments is associated with the work of the Central Ka-zakhstan Archaeological expedition, then the study was continued by the Saryarka archaeological expedition and the Karaganda University named after E.A. Buketov. It should be noted that in recent years there has been a positive trend in the study of funerary and memorial early medieval monuments of Central Kazakh-stan. However, the accumulated materials are still few and without systematic research, positive changes are not expected in the coming years, and the stage of primary data accumulation may last for more than a dec-ade

Arab Migration During Early Islam: The Seventh to Eighth Century AD from an Archaeological Perspective

Abstract The topic of Arab migration during the medieval period has occupied many modern historians. The evidence for migration in chronicles and geographies, however, is quite thin. This article looks at these texts as well as at contemporary “archaeological texts” (inscriptions and papyri documents) and archaeology. Each of these sources provides different information under different limitations which sometimes correlates with another. One main focus of the article is the ability of archaeology to answer – alone – the question about Arab migration. For that purpose, two archaeological models are proposed. One model highlights the link between the material culture of two regions (origin and destination) in two sequent times and its evolvement in the destination. The other model points to continuous links between origin and destination and the evolvement of material culture in the origin. The models are compared to a number of case studies from the early Islamic period (seventh to tenth century AD) in the Levant, Spain, and additional regions. The case studies present innovations which might reflect migrants: irrigation methods, specific forms of architecture, production techniques of portable artifacts, and evidence for a new confession – Islam. While the archaeological records of early Islam are often too limited to answer most of the models’ criteria, two case studies seem promising: soapstone pots/bowls and early Muslim burials. Both cases imply the migration of people from the Arabian Peninsula elsewhere in the eighth or even the seventh century.

Reason and Faith: A Conflict through the History of Philosophy

The relationship between faith and reason has been a subject of profound philosophical inquiry throughout history. Philosophers from different periods and traditions have grappled with the tension between religious belief and rational inquiry, shaping our understanding of the complex relationship between faith and reason. In ancient times, thinkers explored the nature of knowledge and the role of reason in uncovering truth. While reason played a central role, faith in divine beings also had significance. During the medieval period, theologians sought to reconcile faith and reason, considering them as complementary faculties for attaining truth. Throughout history, the exploration of the relationship between faith and reason has shaped philosophical discourse and provided insights into knowledge, belief, and the human condition. The ongoing dialogue continues to stimulate intellectual inquiry and offers different perspectives on the nature of truth and the meaning of existence.

Historical Development and Cross-Cultural Influence of Dance Creation: Evolution of Body Language

This paper delves into the historical evolution of dance creation and its cross-cultural influences, with a particular focus on the transformation of corporeal language. Commencing from the dance traditions of ancient cultures, the article retraces the dances of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, as well as the religious and courtly dances of the medieval and Renaissance periods. Subsequently, it scrutinizes the emergence of modern dance, encompassing the American modern dance movement and European expressionist dance, along with the evolution of dance techniques and forms. The article delves into the varied manifestations of dance, including pure dance, narrative dance, and experimental dance compositions. It also analyzes the impact of cross-cultural influences and globalization on dance, encompassing dance's role as a medium for cultural dissemination, as well as the internationalization of dance education. Finally, by examining the evolution of corporeal language, it underscores the connection between dance and emotional expression and social corporeal language, including trends in dance creation and interdisciplinary research in the digital age. This article encapsulates the metamorphosis of dance as a form of corporeal language, emphasizing its significance and forthcoming challenges.

World Literature: An Indian Way of Thinking

The idea of the world is a dynamic phenomenon, and the development of world literature is tied to both literary and extra-literary events. Worldwide literary centers can be found in many locations spanning both time and space. The concept of the world, or Visva (Sanskrit), is considerably older even if world literature has been a discursive framework that has affected the literary structures of many languages around the world since the 19th century. “Vasudhaiba Kutumbakam,” or the universal neighborhood, is a term from ancient Indian literature that attests to the age of the concept of Vasudha, or the world. As a result of numerous trade routes, cultural interactions, the expansion of ancient and medieval kingdoms, and the transit of literary writings, cosmopolitan literary spaces were created in various parts of t8he world. Additionally, the absence of modern cartography and the sovereign state system enabled constant changes in the borders of the empires, resulting in spaces with many languages. India has connections to several Asian nations dating back to ancient times, as well as to Europe since the medieval period. The diverse traditions of human thought from various parts of the world are carried in Indian literature. Significant literary contacts and the ongoing formation of new literary legacies were witnessed in the East, Middle East, South East, and South Asia of the present. The Sufi and Bhakti traditions, the reception of Indian epics as oral, written, and performative texts in South-East Asia, and the role of the royal courts as multilingual literary spaces continue to broaden the intellectual traditions of Bharat (India). Thus, the pre-modern development of world literature seemed intriguing and a subject worth exploring for literary professionals. This essay contends that ancient and medieval India and Bengal, particularly their languages, continually bargained to expand their intellectual frontiers.

Georgian Literature before the Weltliteratur

The history of Georgian writing starts much earlier than when Goethe introduced the term “Weltliteratur.” It starts from the era of Christianity from the 4th century. Due to the fast spread of Christianity in the Early Medieval period, Georgia was already included in the European net of Christian writing. All branches of Christian spiritual literature were presented. Georgian culture and literature naturally were developing in the frame of the Western European tradition. The period of the 11th-12th centuries was a Golden Era for Georgia, and the heyday of fame for Georgian culture and literature as well. Precisely during this period, “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” was created by Shota Rustaveli. Apart from its aesthetic, philosophical, and worldview depth, it is a first text in Georgian literature as well as in European literature which reflects the clashing of two huge universes in Georgian culture—the West and the East. The Western principles are revealed in the Christian worldview of the text, in the way of thinking of the author and in its genre; however, the 12th century is already a period of strengthening of the influence of Eastern culture and literature in the European part of the Caucasus, and Rustaveli regards with obvious favor the Oriental poetic motifs. Unfortunately, at this stage of European literary history, Georgian literature was separated from the Western European literary process due to tragic political events. As for literature, it was a period of almost three centuries of silence. After the fall of Constantinople, Georgian literature had to move closer to the Eastern area as an historically offered alternative. From the 17th century, the process of the returning of Georgian political and cultural life back within the European frame had been started. Genuine Georgian writers were able to tie Georgian literature to the cultural models of European Classicism and the Enlightenment.

Model of Periodization of the History of Civilization and Phases of Development of Islamic Education

This research aims to discuss the periodization model of the history of civilization and the development phases of Islamic education. The historical periodization of Islamic civilization and Islamic education developed simultaneously because education existed because of the existence of a civilization. Islamic civilization and education began with the presence of Islam in Mecca. The Prophet established that Islamic education is based on the Koran and Hadith so that all the values of Islamic education are found in the Koran. Harun Nasution divides the history of Islamic civilization into three periods, namely the classical period, the medieval period and the modern period. The development of Islamic education goes hand in hand with the historical development of Islamic civilization. In the classical period, Islamic education was centered on the Prophet, Khulfaur Rasyidin, the Umayyad daulah and the Abbasid daulah. In the middle period, Islamic education focused on three large empires, namely the Ottoman Empire in Turkey, the Safavid empire in Persia and the Mughal empire in India. Meanwhile, in the modern period Islamic education experienced significant changes because in the medieval period Islam experienced decline. Islamic education was born with a new face to develop Islamic education in various aspects.

Об исследовании материальной культуры средневековой Гянджи на примере национальных мужских одежд

In this scientific work, national samples of local clothes of the medieval period of the city of Ganja were studied as examples of intercultural significance. Also, the main characteristic features of these handicrafts were identified as an indicator of the centuries-old multicultural values of the Azerbaijani people. Based on the study of individual historical written sources, material products, the above examples of folk crafts are involved in the study as examples of the multicultural spiritual heritage of both the city of Ganja and the entire Caucasus region.

Стеклянные сосуды из раскопок Алмалыкского могильника

The article discusses the glass vessels found during the excavations of the cemetery in Almalyk-dere ravine at the north-eastern slope of Mangup mountain. As the cemetery of Almalyk was plundered two times, in antiquity and in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, its graves contained almost no glass vessels in situ, and the overwhelming majority of the finds were uncovered in the soil secondary deposited by the looters. The forms of the vessels comprise of the pitchers, tumblers/cups, dishes, bowls, and open-type vessels tentatively called cups. Some of the items were documented as a few fragments; such cases mark only that the glass ware was among the grave goods in this or that burial structure. Almost all of the finds under study originate from the assemblages dating to the second half/late fourth to the first half of the sixth century. Most glassware forms are rather typical of the Late Roman / Early Mediaeval Period. Most often, glass vessels occurred in burial vaults within supposed sets of funerary utensils along with red-slip and hand-made vessels. Although most of the burial vaults and undercut graves in the cemetery of Almalyk were plundered, one can trace the use of glass vessels as grave goods as late as the sixth century. The later assemblages excavated at the cemetery of Almalyk so far do not contain any glassware.

Kola’s Kingdom: The Territory of Abasa (Western Somaliland) during the Medieval Period

During the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries, the territory of western Somaliland was integrated into a series of Muslim states which controlled large areas of the southeastern Horn of Africa. One of the ways this control manifested itself was in the emergence of a network of permanent settlements on the westernmost side of Somaliland and the neighboring Ethiopian region. Although 20 of these sites have been identified so far, our information about most of them is fragmentary at best. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the material, architectural and territorial context of three of these medieval sites: Abasa (Darbiyah Kola), Hasadinle, and Iskudarka. This paper analyzes the information they provide us for understanding some of the key themes of the history of the region, such as the strategies of state control, the process of Islamization, the relationships between nomads and urban dwellers, and the material expressions of hierarchization and social inequality.

Multi‐analytical characterization of archaeological fragments of pietra ollare from the Medieval site ‘Piana di S. Martino’ (Piacenza, Italy): A mobile and laboratory approach

AbstractThe archaeological excavations in the site of ‘Piana di San Martino’ (Pianello Val Tidone, Piacenza, Italy) discovered several fragments of pietra ollare (soapstone) artefacts, dating back to the Medieval period. A selection of fragments was characterized with micro‐Raman spectroscopy in order to determine their composition, in terms of main and accessory species. The morphology of the crystals and the mineral phases were also investigated with polarized‐light microscopy observations, X‐ray powder diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy‐Dispersive System analyses, which corroborate the Raman results. A detailed characterization was obtained on 12 fragments ascribable to pots and a millstone, made of talc‐schists or chlorite‐schists, including garnet‐bearing chlorite‐schists. Interest findings about the activities related to the use of these artefacts and the alteration processes occurred during their burial period were highlighted by the identification of specific products. Additionally, mobile Raman measurements were performed on the fragments, and a quick and effective evaluation of their composition was successfully achieved. These results highlight the use of mobile Raman instruments in the field of archaeology, specifically referred to pietra ollare findings, for which a preliminary identification may be obtained directly in situ.

Awesome, but Impractical? Deeper Engagement with the Middle Ages through Commercial Digital Games

Medievalist computer games possess a vast reach and potent influence over their audience, but this influence often runs counter to the goals of heritage and teaching practitioners. This piece argues that while the commercial and mechanical requirements of computer games limit the utility of these games as heritage and educational tools on the macro scale, these same qualities enable computer games to engage their players with the Middle Ages in a different manner from other heritage platforms which can be of substantial value.To this end, the piece will first highlight the similarities and differences between computer games and other means of engaging with history and heritage. It will proceed to consider the pressures these differences exert on the representation of history within games alongside the impact of the expectations of audiences and developers about this form of history and about the Middle Ages. Finally, the piece will discuss how these difficulties may be overcome, alleviated or embraced to support broader and deeper engagement with the medieval period and history more generally. Banner image taken from Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Gold Edition Press kit, Ubisoft, 2020.

Revisiting Presentism

This essay explores the pertinence of the present as a temporal category in the late medieval and early modern period. After a historiographical overview of scholarship on presentism and reflections on the complex notion of ‘present’, we present three case studies to explore how the experience of the present could be discerned and studied in literature, visual arts, and news media. The first case study focuses on the increasing emphasis on the present in the Gruuthuse manuscript and rederijker plays. Secondly, an examination of depictions of the breach of the Sint Anthonisdijk in 1651 shows different ways in which Dutch landscape painters engaged with the present. The final case study discusses how the spread of the northern invention of printed newsletters stimulated a wider interest in the present ‘elsewhere’ in apparent peripheric locations like Geneva. Drawing on these cases, we reflect on the relation between crises and presentism and suggest that the manner in which time, and the present in particular, was experienced in north-western Europe seems to be distinctly different from the relation to time of people in Renaissance Italy.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF UNPUBLISHED CHAGATAI-PERSIAN DICTIONARIES OF THE 16th–18th CENTURIES: LEXICOGRAPHIC AND SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECTS

The investigation delves into Chagatai-Persian dictionaries from the 16th to the 18th centuries, preserved in the Central Library of Punjab University. The article aims to study the structural features of these dictionaries in the context of their sociocultural significance and influence on the further development of Turkic languages. These invaluable medieval artifacts underwent detailed scrutiny using multiple methods, encompassing structural, lexical, codicological, lexicographic and sociocultural analyses. Within a single manuscript cover, there exist six treatises on the Turkic-Persian lexicon alongside a textbook elucidating Turkic language grammar. These are inscribed in the Perso-Arabic script, a writing system employed for the Chagatai language. The chief lexicographic design integrates headwords and their explanations in couplets, avoiding any typographic or grammatical demarcation. The artful use of rhyme schemes is evident in the systematic arrangement of headwords. A thorough scrutiny of these medieval Chagatai-Persian dictionaries brings to light their distinct lexicographical framework, crafted meticulously to support linguistic conservation. These works capture a wide spectrum of vocabulary from different Turkic territories, underlining the endeavor to encapsulate a broad cultural legacy. Elements such as rhyming masnavi-inspired explanatory sentences, thematic clusters, and dedicated segments on commands and equine terminology are observed. Notably, the integration of Persian elements, especially in the form of auxiliary verbs, symbolizes a fusion of languages. The dictionaries showcase an emphasis on practical vocabulary acquisition through the harmonious pairing of headwords with poetic contexts, devoid of typographic or grammatical deviations. Despite the headword’s seamless integration, there is meticulous attention to maintaining rhyming continuity. The rarity of prefaces is counterbalanced by the richness of colophons, which offer vital details about the manuscript. Though the Chagatai language receded over time, the indelible mark left by these dictionaries endures, with remnants identifiable in modern Turkic vocabularies. A more exhaustive comparative exploration of these works could further deepen insights into Chagatai linguistics and lexicographic practices during the medieval period. This study also triggers broader reflections on the pivotal role of bilingual lexicons in safeguarding vulnerable linguistic treasures. By methodically presenting and analyzing these linguistic gems, the investigation facilitates their appreciation within scholarly circles, underscoring the Turkic cultural legacy. This also solidifies their recognition as prime examples of the mutual literary interplay between Turkic and Persian traditions, a relationship rooted in the medieval timeframe.

The role of fire in the Medieval and Early Modern landscape of Bad Waldsee within the broader context of the pre-Alpine forelands of south-western Germany

Fire, an important element of human land use strategies, was part of many early industrial activities but also of burning incidents that significantly impacted settlement structures and development. The spatial proximity of the historically well-documented medieval town and sediment archive deposited in its central lake (Stadtsee) was taken to investigate the interplay of fire and socio-environmental developments during the preindustrial phase of 750−150 bp (ad 1200–1800). The burning episodes were detected using the sediment macroscopic charcoal record (> 150 μm) and were interpreted considering sedimentological, palynological, and historical evidence. Macro-charcoal analysis revealed two main phases of biomass burning: a late Medieval one (653−533 cal bp ), followed by a distinct fire-free interval, and a second Modern Times phase (313 cal bp until today). During the late Medieval times and after ad 1750 (200 cal bp) low-magnitude local fires coincided with high-intensity land use pressure. Major historical events like the Thirty Years’ War and the fire incident near the town (ad 1386, 174 cal bp) were also documented by the charcoal sedimentary record. The specific terrain morphology and the town microclimate impacted the chance of whether certain local burning patterns were detectable at all. This study demonstrates that during the Medieval period to the present day, fire events, mainly anthropogenic, were coupled with the main vegetation developments. Anthropogenic fire was an inseparable part of the Bad Waldsee landscape, as also recorded historically by the town archives.

Impact of Sufi Movement on Socio-religious Life During the Medieval Period: Rise and Spread of Sufism Movement in India

Sufism develops the esoteric and exoteric dimensions of spiritual practice to establish deep devotion, love as passion; Instead of Namaz, Hajj and celibacy, poetry, song and dance, worship and turning away from God are the norm. Like the Bhakti movement, the Sufi movement also came into its effective form in the medieval period, although its background can be seen only in the seventh-eighth century. Similarly, like the Bhakti movement, the Sufi movement was not an attempt to establish any new religion but was a peaceful campaign of Islam.

<em>Roman Culture in the Ottonian World</em>

Roman culture outlived its empire in the West. Any study aiming to assess its relevance in the medieval period must consider that related conceptions and cultural features may change over time. A significantly different definition may have applied to medieval periods compared to what we know from the time of the Roman Principate. This paper studies Roman culture in the Ottonian world by considering the significance and role attributed to the culture of the Roman past and the Byzantine present. The first section focuses on cultural elements related to politics and the exertion of power, the second deals with Roman culture in the material heritage, and the third discusses related non-material aspects. The study argues that although the Ottonians called themselves emperors of a Roman empire, elements that may have been conceived as Roman or were related to the Byzantine world were far from abundant and largely limited to the court. The Roman empire was part of their western heritage, while Roman and Byzantine models represented the sole known sets of adequate examples or sources of inspiration to represent western emperorship. These models had already been adopted and adapted by the Carolingians, who remained an important reference among their imperial successors. Still, while influences from Byzantine court culture were present at the Ottonian court, monastic and popular Byzantine culture was largely absent from the Ottonian world. .

Игрушки и игры как элемент социализации детей северной части Буковины в Х—ХІV вв.

The article considers one of the important elements of the child’s world and discovery process through the games and the toys. These toys and games play an important role during child’s life and are an important element and the way of education and upbringing. Nevertheless, the researchers have paid little attention to this category of artifacts, hardly referring to them in their publications. Clay zoomorphic and anthropomorphic toys took an important place in the culture of the ancient population. In the researched area, explorers have found a clay figurine of an animal and a clay horseman figurine which are the examples of the graphic toy type. Clay Easter eggs (pysanka) and bone whistles belong to the rattling toys. The children’s tableware and «coins» belonged to the category of household items. Various games also played an important role in the upbringing of children and their daily life. For researchers, they are of special interest, since they were not meant just to entertain children, but had a symbolic and magical meaning. Archaeological materials are of great importance due to the small number of extant written sources. The artifacts that were found in the explored area indicate the existence of the chess game. There is also evidence of using the astragalus and dice in the games. We have more opportunities to learn about the life and culture of the local inhabitants of the medieval period in the northern part of Bukovina by studying children’s toys and play accessories.

The Country and the City in the Kāñcippurāṇam

Numerous pre-modern literary works in Tamil begin with a lengthy description of a country and a city. This convention is a stock element of texts belonging to the kāppiyam and purāṇam genres, which can be defined as long narrative poems and mythological narrations, respectively. Such descriptions are particularly numerous in talapurāṇams, i.e., texts dealing with the mythology of sacred sites. This article discusses the description of the country and the city in the Kāñcippurāṇam (KP), a talapurāṇam of the city of Kanchipuram composed in the late 18th century by the author Civañāṉa Muṉivar. It will be shown that the description of Kanchipuram and its surroundings in the introductory chapters of the KP, rather than aiming at a realistic portrayal, is strongly based on Tamil literary conventions that can be traced back to ancient Tamil literature, but also to influential texts of the medieval period, such as the Kamparāmāyaṇam or the Periyapurāṇam. Moreover, the article examines how Civañāṉa Muṉivar correlates the literary landscape that he describes with the real-world geography of the region around Kanchipuram and Śaiva devotional topography, thus creating a complex multi-layered landscape.