scholarly journals Early Balkan Metallurgy: Origins, Evolution and Society, 6200–3700 BC

Author(s):  
Miljana Radivojević ◽  
Benjamin W. Roberts

AbstractThis paper analyses and re-evaluates current explanations and interpretations of the origins, development and societal context of metallurgy in the Balkans (c. 6200–3700 BC). The early metallurgy in this region encompasses the production, distribution and consumption of copper, gold, tin bronze, lead and silver. The paper draws upon a wide range of existing archaeometallurgical and archaeological data, the diversity and depth of which make the Balkans one of the most intensively investigated of all early metallurgical heartlands across the world. We focus specifically on the ongoing debates relating to (1) the independent invention and innovation of different metals and metal production techniques; (2) the analysis and interpretation of early metallurgical production cores and peripheries, and their collapses; and (3) the relationships between metals, metallurgy and society. We argue that metal production in the Balkans throughout this period reflects changes in the organisation of communities and their patterns of cooperation, rather than being the fundamental basis for the emergence of elites in an increasingly hierarchical society.

Author(s):  
William O'Brien

This volume examines prehistoric copper mining in Europe, from the first use of the metal eight thousand years ago in the Balkans to its widespread adoption during the Bronze Age. The history of research is examined, as is the survival of this mining archaeology in different geological settings. There is information on the technological processes of mineral prospecting, ore extraction, and metal production, as well as the logistics and organization of this activity and its environmental impact. The analysis is broadened to consider the economic and societal context of prehistoric copper mining and the nature of the distinctive communities involved. The study is based on a review of field data and research produced over many decades by the collaboration of archaeologists and geologists in a number of different countries, and covers such famous mining centres as the Mitterberg in Austria, Kargaly in Russia, the Great Orme in Wales, and those in Cyprus, from where the name of this metal derives. These regional studies are brought together for the first time to present a remarkable story of human endeavour and innovation, which marks a new stage in the mastery of our natural resources.


Author(s):  
Stefanos Katsikas

Drawing from a wide range of primary archival and secondary Greek, Bulgarian, and Turkish sources, the book explores the way the Muslim populations of Greece were ruled by state authorities from Greece’s political emancipation from the Ottoman Empire in the 1820s up to the country’s entrance into World War II, in October 1940. In particular, the book examines how state rule influenced the development of the Muslim populations’ collective identity as a minority and how it affected Muslim relations with the Greek authorities, Greek Orthodox Christians, and other ethnic and religious groups. Greece was the first country to become an independent state in the Balkans and a pioneer in experimenting with minority issues. With regards to its Muslim populations, Greece’s ruling framework, and many of the country’s state administrative measures and patterns were to serve as a template at a later stage in other Christian Orthodox Balkan states with Muslim minorities (e.g., Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Cyprus): Muslim religious officials were empowered with authorities they did not have in Ottoman times, and aspects of Islamic law (sharia) were incorporated into the state legal system to be used for Muslim family and property affairs. The book shows that these and any policies can be ambivalent and cannot be a guide to present-day solutions. It also argues that religion remained a defining element and that religious nationalism and public institutions played an important role in the development of religious and ethnic identity.


2020 ◽  

The authors of the joint monograph "The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878: Hopes – Vicissitudes – Lessons", historians, culturologists and literary scholars, based on historical documents, archival materials, facts of public life and fiction writing, as well as "field work", give an updated vision of the sesquicentennial events, which played a significant role in the transformation of the geopolitical map of Europe and interethnic relations, and whose echoes are still heard today, often re-acquiring the acute relevance. The primary focus is on the Balkan policy of Russia and other major European countries; the Russian-Bulgarian military cooperation; the Russian-Bulgarian social and cultural ties; the refraction of historical realities in artistic creation, journalism and diaries. The book will be of interest to a wide range of researchers, university students and readers interested in the development of international relations, the history and culture of the Balkans, the Russian-Bulgarian dialogue.


Author(s):  
M. BEECH

This chapter describes the methodology and results of the environmental archaeology research programme at Nicopolis ad Istrum in the Balkans. The aims of the research programme were: to determine the use of the major domestic animal and plant species and to explore what husbandry practices may have been employed; to examine the changing role of domestic versus wild resources; to reconstruct the likely natural environment close to Nicopolis, using the presence of particular species and their known habitats. This chapter presents examinations of epigraphic and documentary evidence found at the site, including coins and animal footprints. A large quantity of bio-archaeological data was collected, including bone fragments of mammals, birds, and fish; moderate quantities of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine mollusca; and large quantities of cereals, pulses, edible fruits, and nuts, as well as wild plants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 998 ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Peter Futaš ◽  
Alena Pribulová ◽  
Marcela Pokusova

Modern metal melting includes of cast iron production in different types furnaces with specific characteristics. Furnaces usually adopted are cupola and induction furnaces. Casting cast iron is a manufacturing process characterized by its energy-intensive nature (ie, the use of large amounts of energy per unit of product for main activities) and a long tradition. An example of the energy balance in a foundry is the design of procedures to reduce energy consumption. The most important is the consumption of energy in the production of hot metals (52%), therefore reducing the cost of preparing hot metal is especially important by reducing the energy consumption of metal melting. The most important energy cost practices are the consumption of hot metal to produce 1mt of high quality castings (often 1700 kg) and reduce the energy consumption of hot metal production that varies over a wide range (from 500 to 1300 kWh/mt). Although scientific and technological aspects are now well established, new studies seem to be needed to describe "foundry of the future", where energy and material efficiency is of great importance to ensure competitiveness alongside environmental protection. The paper presents specific procedures for reducing both economically important indicators in cupola and electric induction furnaces.


Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Rodríguez-Solana ◽  
Natacha Coelho ◽  
Antonio Santos-Rufo ◽  
Sandra Gonçalves ◽  
Efrén Pérez-Santín ◽  
...  

Carob liqueur is a traditional Mediterranean alcoholic beverage obtained via a wide range of production techniques contributing to the different organoleptic attributes of the final product. The aim of this research was to evaluate the stability of the chemical composition and biological capacities (antioxidant and enzyme inhibition) under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of liqueurs prepared by flavouring the fig spirit with carob pulp by maceration, distillation, percolation, or aqueous and hydro-alcoholic infusions. For this purpose, the phenolic and furanic compositions, the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents, antioxidant capacity (AC), and enzyme inhibitory potential against acethylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes were evaluated. The content of gallic acid decreased after gastrointestinal digestion, while TPC, TFC, and AC significantly increased after each digestion phase. Overall, no significantly different enzyme inhibitions (p < 0.05) were observed among digested liqueurs, with moderate inhibition against acethylcholinesterase and tyrosinase (enzymes related with neurodegenerative diseases), and potent and low inhibitory capacities for α-glucosidase and α-amylase, respectively (ideal conditions employed in antidiabetic therapy). The study indicates that hydro-alcoholic infusion and maceration were the most appropriate methods to obtain liqueurs with higher values of the aforementioned parameters and safe levels of toxic furanics.


Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 487
Author(s):  
Yigal Levin

For several hundred years, from the late Iron Age to the end of the 2nd century BCE, the southern neighbor of Judea was “Idumea”, populated by descendants of Edomites, together with Qedarite and other Arabs and a mix of additional ethnicities. This paper examines the known data on the identity, especially religious identity, of these Idumeans, using a wide range of written sources and archaeological data. Within the Bible, “Edom” is presented as Israel’s twin and its harshest enemy, but there are hints that the Edomites worshipped the God of Israel. While the origins of the “Edomite deity” Qaus remain obscure, as does the process of their migration into southern Judah, the many inscriptions from the Persian period show that Qaus became the most widely worshipped deity in the area, even if other gods, including Yahweh, were also recognized. The Hellenistic period brought heightened Greek and Phoenician influence, but also the stabilization of “Idumea” as an administrative/ethnic unit. Some of the practices of this period, such as male circumcision, show an affinity to the Judaism of the time. This paper also discusses the outcome of the Hasmonean conquest of Idumea and the incorporation of its inhabitants into the Jewish nation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 265
Author(s):  
Redyanto Noor

Popular literature is not bad literature, its standard does not lie in its inability to meet the demands of criticism, but on what benefits it gives to the reader. The study of popular literary structures is not important and interesting because the formulas of popular literary structures have definite and consistent criteria. However, popular sociological literary research provides another important and interesting possibility. The sociological facets of popular literature both inside and outside of the text are vast areas of literary research and have a wide range of issues. The production, distribution, and reception aspects are the areas of popular literary research outside the text whose phenomenon is constantly evolving. The social aspect in the text is the area of literary research that has unlimited problems as the object of research material, in line with the productivity of popular literature writing which is very high and fast. Popular literature as an object of research is very rich in materials and data, especially sociological materials and data that are closely related to social issues, both in the text and outside the text. The quality of literary research is actually not determined by the object of research material, but is determined by the formal object and the proper cultivation of its research and the use of appropriate theories and methods so as to produce original, important, and useful findings for the sciences and society.


Author(s):  
Tuncer Özdil ◽  
Ainura Turdalieva

One of the main objectives of economic policies of developing countries is implementing structural changes to enhance the economic development. Globalization as well as in all over the world, has accelerated this structural change in Kazakhstan. Despite the fact that concept of the economic structure is wide range, the structural change explained by the different approaches in the research, which is important in reflecting different aspects of the country's economic structure and in determining economic plans and policies. Under these circumstances an input - output analysis of economic structure is the main reason to write this paper. For this purpose, in the given research was used input-output tables prepared by the Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period 2005-2009, to examine changes in the structure of economic production by industrial interdependence; changes in production techniques; the intermediate product effectiveness and total efficiency coefficients, to inform about structural changes in the economy and make contribution to policy and plan making process. Research based on analyze of input-output tables prepared by the Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a source of data for the years for 2005 and for 2009. For the purpose of the study structural changes were calculated and compared by industrial interdependence with the production techniques, intermediate production usage coefficients on sectoral and macro-level. Thereby, technical results obtained from the explanation of positive and negative aspects of production in Kazakhstan on sector basis, allows to give recommendations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 28-45
Author(s):  
Ya. V. Vishnyakov

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Eastern question and the search for ways to solve it occupied a central place in the politics of both Russia and European states. With his decision was closely linked the process of formation of the young Balkan countries. Serbia, whose formation of a new statehood typologically coincides with a change in the system of European international relations of the 19th and early 20th centuries, played an important role in the events of the Eastern question, while claiming to be the Yugoslav “Piemont”. However, it was the war by the beginning of the twentieth century. It became, both for Serbia and other countries of the region, not only a means of gaining state sovereignty, but also the main way to resolve its own interstate contradictions, which took place against the background of an external factor - the impact on the political processes of the Balkans of the Great Powers. These factors led to the natural militarization of the everyday life of Serbian society. The presence in the everyday consciousness of the people of the image of a hostile “other” became one of the main ways of internal consolidation of the country, when attitudes towards war, pushing the values of peaceful life to the background, created a special basic consensus in the state development of Serbia at the beginning of the 20th century, and the anthropological role of the military factor was essential influenced the underlying processes that took place in the country at the beginning of the twentieth century. In the conditions of a new stage of destruction of the Balkans along the ethno-political line, the factor of militarization of everyday life again becomes an important element of the historical policy of the Balkan countries and the construction of a “new past”. In this regard, the understanding of many problems and possible scenarios for the development of the current Balkan reality is linked to this phenomenon. Thus, the study of the impact on the political life of Serbia at the beginning of the twentieth century of special "extra-constitutional" institutions is important for a wide range of researchers, including for a systematic analysis of the crisis in the territory of the former SFRY.Author declares the absence of conflict of interests.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document