The Northern and Western Borderlands of the Sasanian Empire: Contextualising the Roman/Byzantine and Sasanian Frontier

2017 ◽  
pp. 99-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Lawrence ◽  
Tony J. Wilkinson

This chapter investigates the archaeological landscapes of the frontiers of the Sasanian Empire. Drawing on evidence from current and archived archaeological surveys, in combination with high-resolution remote sensing datasets such as CORONA spy photography, we compare the organisation of settlements and defensive structures of the Sasanian frontier zones in response to a variety of external pressures. These varied from the Roman Empire in the west to less centralised entities, including nomadic groups, in the south-west and north-east. Following a general discussion of the multiple manifestations of Sasanian frontiers drawn from southern Mesopotamia (Iraq), northern Syria and north-eastern Iran, the main focus of the chapter is on the complex frontier landscape of the southern Caucasus, particularly the area of modern Azerbaijan, Georgia and Daghestan. We discuss the role of linear barriers, including the Gorgan Wall in north-eastern Iran and the Ghilghilchay and Derbent Walls in the Caucasus, irrigation systems, and alignments of fortifications and settlements in shaping their local landscapes. By placing the archaeological remains of the Sasanian Empire in a wider context we are able to examine the relationships between military installations, settlement patterns, infrastructure and geographical features such as mountain ranges and rivers. Comparing the different case studies allows us to conclude with some general statements on the nature of Sasanian power in the frontier territories of the empire.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Francesco Martorella

The topic of military settlements and the role of troops in the northern provinces of North Africa during the age of the Roman Empire has recently gained a strong interest in historical, archaeological, epigraphical, and economic studies. In particular, at Mauretania Tingitana (in the north-east area of modern-day Morocco), the presence of numerous military camps in the Early and Later Roman Empire has now been assessed. In this framework, the present work deals with the geophysical survey, by means of magnetometry, at the site of el Benian, where the largest military camp is located. In particular, the magnetic survey has highlighted the organization of the camp, almost totally unknown previously. The result of the magnetic survey has confirmed intense building activity over the centuries and made it possible to identify and characterize the structures typical of a military field.


1992 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Woodman

This study examines the archaeological significance of the material from a group of Neolithic chipping floors rescued during the rebuilding of the Antrim coast road, at Mad Mans Window, south of Glenarm, Co. Antrim. It shows that the lithic production strategies vary significantly between assemblages although it is presumed that they are all Neolithic in date and come from the same area of coast. It is apparent that flint axe production was of limited importance on these sites and that in spite of the abundance of flint available along the Antrim coast, relatively few polished flint axes were manufactured. Instead the numerous flint caches found in adjacent parts of the north-east of Ireland tend to produce scrapers and blades. Hoards containing arrowheads may be confined to the Bronze Age.Around 300 polished flint axes and roughouts are known from Ireland. These are frequently small and only partially polished. A limited number of highly polished axes with ground flat side facets have been designated sub-type A. The tendency to use porcellanite rather than flint for axe manufacture may be due to its ability to withstand robust shock.During the last 100 years, the role of flint as a key resource in the stone age of north-eastern Ireland has always been recognized but this has usually led to an uncritical assumption as to the paramount importance of flint. Work in recent years has shown that its significance in attracting and retaining Mesolithic settlement may have been over-emphasized.The role of the flint industries in the Irish Neolithic in this region has never been properly assessed, either in relation to older Mesolithic manufacturing traditions or in the broader context of supply to the Neolithic communities of this part of Ireland.In particular, good or even reasonable quality flint is usually only exposed in Cretaceous outcrops along a narrow strip on the edge of the basalt plateau and, therefore, has a very limited availability in parts of Co. Antrim as well as parts of Counties Down and Deny. As a contrast, erratic and beach flint is available in some quantity down the east coast of Ireland from Co. Down to Wexford. A second potential constraining factor is that unlike Britain, where flint was exploited for axe manufacture in the east and other rocks in the west, flint sources and porcellanite for axe manufacturing are both found adjacent to each other in the same corner of Co. Antrim. In particular, a number of more substantial chipping floors of Neolithic age are known, e.g. the opencast quarry sites at Ballygalley Head. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of flint production on the Antrim coast with particular reference to its significance in the Neolithic. This topic will be developed in the context of an analysis of the material found at Mad Mans Window near Glenarm.


Author(s):  
M. D. Kushnareva ◽  

The main purpose of the publication is to analyze the role of trade customs in the process of legal regulation of the organization of the fur trade in the north-east of Siberia in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries. Achieving this goal presupposes an analysis of the norms of the legislative sources of the trade law of the Russian Empire during the period of modernization. The analysis of trade customs is based on examples from previously unpublished and unreported archival sources. Analyzed cash, trade books of firms “N. D. Everstov”, “G. V. Nikiforov”, ‘G. V. Nikiforov and Co”, “I. P. Antipin and G. V. Nikiforov”, Joint Stock Company of Match and Fur Factory “N. P. Rylov and F. P. Lesnikov”, containing records of transactions concluded on the basis of trade customs. The topic is of theoretical and applied relevance. The article is of an interdisciplinary nature. To solve the set tasks, comparative, problem-chronological methods, as well as functional and comparative legal methods of jurisprudence were applied in the work. The author determined that the synthesis of the norms of customary law of the indigenous population of North-Eastern Siberia with the norms of general imperial laws led to the formation of a complex of trade customs in the industry. The article analyzes the practice of implementing such trade customs in the fur trade, such as: accrual of debt to fishers and its transition to the next fishing season, unequal exchange, fixing commercial information in personal correspondence. As the main conclusions, it was noted that the trade customs in the fur trade were superior to the norms of the Trade Charter and other legislative acts of the state. This was facilitated by the special historical conditions and specificity of the legal consciousness of society in the outskirts of the Russian Empire. The development of commodity-money relations and the state policy of legislative convergence of the legal status of the indigenous and Russian population of the outlying territories of Siberia contributed to a gradual decrease in the role of trade customs in the fur trade at the beginning of the 20th century.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-131
Author(s):  
Nina Nurmagomedovna Garunova ◽  
Irina Anatolievna Suzdaltseva ◽  
Lilia Nadipovna Galimova

This article examines the history of the disappeared Russian settlement-fortress, which refers to the period XVI-XVIII centuries. In earlier sources the city was called the redoubt of the Terek, the Terek fortress, sometimes there is a shorter name -Grater. Later they began to use the name Terek the city, represents the city and fortress near the mouth of the Terek, not far from the now not-existing of the river Tyumenka. In the modern period is the territory of the left Bank of the Old Terek to the North-East of the city of Kizlyar, Republic of Dagestan. Criticized the attempts to identify the history of the two fortresses: Walled town and Floats, as well as their role at the initial stage in the formation of Russian population of Dagestan. Characterized by the influence of the process of renewal of the Cossacks in military servicemen estate on the historical development of areas North-Eastern Caucasus. Attention is paid to issues such as the existence of different versions of the city name, the location where divergent opinions of researchers. Emphasis is placed on the role of the Terek city as the southern Outpost of the Russian state, the conductor's Caucasus policy on the North-Eastern Caucasus. The analysis of the problem, which allowed us to consider the integration of the provincial regions in the periphery of the Russian state in the South of the country, and analyzed the development of reference points to spread the influence of Russia in the XVI-XVII centuries.


Author(s):  
Daria K. Markova

The problem of the use of violence as an argument in communication in the North-East Caucasus before the start of Russian policy activation is considered. An assessment of the mountaineers' raiding practice to adjacent territories is given. That had the most painful effect on the situation in Georgia, which even had to buy off enemy invasions, which had acquired a regular, seasonal character. The influence of this factor on the specifics of Russian-North Caucasian relations is being clarified. After Russian settlements began to appear in the region, the vector of the mountain invasion moved from the south to the north. This could not but cause a response, a very harsh reaction from the empire. The question about the role of hunting trips in the socialization of mountain youthis raised. The circumstances of the use of raids to reduce social contradictions within local societies, their role in the selection of the nobility are examined. One of the consequences of such steps will be the spread of the slave trade. It is suggested that the ideology formed as a result of these actions will become the foundation for the teaching of Muridism in the future. An attempt of the Russian Empire to force the mountaineers to abandon such actions will cause a hostile reaction and result in fierce resistance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 100697
Author(s):  
Atoosa Gholamhosseinian ◽  
Adel Sepehr ◽  
Mohammad Sohrabi ◽  
Iraj Emadodin

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-70
Author(s):  
Michał Konopski

Abstract The borders of voivodships in Poland today are not consistent with those of historical regions. The current administrative division is largely based upon imposed boundaries, dividing initial regions. This research topic arises from the dichotomy between the toponymy applied to voivodships because of the administrative reform of 1999 – and the names of historical regions. Implementing such a toponomy, although detached from historical and cultural contexts, has contributed to establishing attachments with current administrative regions, which surpasses identification with historical units. This paper presents the results of empirical research employing a questionnaire survey of the inhabitants of 71 communes (LAU 2 units) in north-eastern Poland. The main objective was to examine the impact of recent administrative reform on territorial identity, with particular emphasis placed on the region of Podlasie. The surveyed communities are to the highest extent attached to national and local levels than to the region, which was only ranked third in the hierarchy of identification with a given area. The regional identity of the population living in north-east Poland is related primarily to the contemporary administrative borders. There are, however, explicit differences in perceptions of the region of Podlasie depending upon respondents’ place of residence, which is an indication that relict borders persist in the residents’ social consciousness.


Author(s):  
Sergey B. Kuklev ◽  
Vladimir A. Silkin ◽  
Valeriy K. Chasovnikov ◽  
Andrey G. Zatsepin ◽  
Larisa A. Pautova ◽  
...  

On June 7, 2018, a sub-mesoscale anticyclonic eddy induced by the wind (north-east) was registered on the shelf in the area of the city of Gelendzhik. With the help of field multidisciplinary expedition ship surveys, it was shown that this eddy exists in the layer above the seasonal thermocline. At the periphery of the eddy weak variability of hydrochemical parameters and quantitative indicators of phytoplankton were recorded. The result of the formation of such eddy structure was a shift in the structure of phytoplankton – the annual observed coccolithophores bloom was not registered.


Author(s):  
Simon Goldhill

How did the Victorians engage with the ancient world? This book is an exploration of how ancient Greece and Rome influenced Victorian culture. Through Victorian art, opera, and novels, the book examines how sexuality and desire, the politics of culture, and the role of religion in society were considered and debated through the Victorian obsession with antiquity. Looking at Victorian art, it demonstrates how desire and sexuality, particularly anxieties about male desire, were represented and communicated through classical imagery. Probing into operas of the period, the book addresses ideas of citizenship, nationalism, and cultural politics. And through fiction—specifically nineteenth-century novels about the Roman Empire—it discusses religion and the fierce battles over the church as Christianity began to lose dominance over the progressive stance of Victorian science and investigation. Rediscovering some great forgotten works and reframing some more familiar ones, the book offers extraordinary insights into how the Victorian sense of antiquity and our sense of the Victorians came into being. With a wide range of examples and stories, it demonstrates how interest in the classical past shaped nineteenth-century self-expression, giving antiquity a unique place in Victorian culture.


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