In late Medieval Poland, and by analogy in all of Europe, luxury at the royal table was represented by the use of imported choice products that were accessible only to a selected few. Similar to jewels, valuable robes or articles of precious metals, these products were kept in the royal treasury. In addition to the obvious culinary impact (however limited it may have been) and alleged healing powers of certain spices, the choice products most certainly played their part in issues of prestige and propaganda. The use of luxury products can be considered as an interesting indicator of change, particularly with respect to relations among the estates in late Medieval Poland. The presence of such products at the table or in the diet was the very article that distinguished the royal court from other courts of the late Medieval Polish kingdom; at the same time, it brought them closer to contemporary courts of the rulers of west Europe. and Agnieszka Januszek-Sieradzka.
Autorovi jsou vlastní přístupy „nové filmové historie“, které oprošťují psaní o filmu od tradičních kategorií a periodizací a obracejí badatelskou pozornost k ekonomickým aspektům filmového průmyslu nebo k problematice distribučních mechanismů a diváctví. To obnáší interdisciplinární přesahy a nutnost pracovat s velice rozmanitým materiálem. Autor podnikl rozsáhlý průzkum v archivech šesti zemí a jeho výsledky kriticky a organicky propojuje s poznatky z dalších zdrojů včetně svědectví pamětníků. První část metodologicky vzorně koncipované publikace je věnována kulturním transferům v rámci severního trojúhelníku, s dalšími zeměmi sovětského bloku i s kapitalistickými státy. Ve druhé části autor v kontextu stalinismu a následného „tání“ mapuje úlohu filmové distribuce, s jejíž pomocí se režim snažil o sociální integraci občanů. Mimořádně přínosná je podle recenzentky třetí část, věnovaná divácké recepci filmů a podepřená lokální případovou studií o chování a postojích publika v poválečném Brně, Lipsku a Poznani., The author of the book under review uses the approaches of the "new film history", which frees him from writing about film using traditional categories and periodizations, and allows him to turn his attention to economic aspects of the film industry or to distribution mechanisms and audiences. That approach entails overlaps with other disciplines and work with a wide range of material, The author has undertaken extensive research in the archives of six countries, and has critically and organically linked this research together with information from other sources, including eyewitness accounts. The first part of this methodologically exemplary publication is devoted to cultural transfers in the "Northern Triangle" (Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Poland) with other Soviet bloc countries and also with capitalist states. In the second part, in the context of Stalinism and the subsequent Thaw the author looks at the role of film distribution which the régime sought use to integrate its citizens into society. An exceptional contribution of the publication, according to the reviewer, is the third part, which focuses on film-audience reception, supported by local case studies on the behaviour and attitudes of Brno, Leipzig and Poznan audiences after the Second World War., [autor recenze] Alena Šlingerová., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
The working definition of a “succession crisis” is based on the presumption that stability is a critical factor in a political system. The system becomes vulnerable if something deprives it of its steadiness and pushes it out of balance. A monarch in the medieval political system played the role of the stability factor which was supposed to harmonize contrary interests of different groups and circles in a kingdom. A “succession crisis” erupts when there is no political agreement regarding who should step into the role of a deceased monarch, i.e., who shows the most promise in achieving the goals of stability, harmony and a balance of power. The thrones in Central Europe were emptied nearly simultaneously at the turn of the fourteenth century. Since politics cannot bear a vacuum, these unexpected vacancies opened the field for new candidates to the throne(s). The paper reflects on three subjects. First, it raises the question of a “succession crisis” as a methodological tool for studying politics in the Middle Ages. Secondly, it outlines the stances of the modern Polish historiography on Łokietek’s coming back to power between 1305 and 1314 and his puzzling popularity among the nobility of Little Poland. It also reveals recent opinions of Polish historians about the Bohemian rule in Poland in the turn of the fourteenth century. Finally, the paper applies the concept of “succession crisis” and switch the focus of Łokietek’s attempts for the throne from a political microhistory to a picture of greater regional range. and Wojciech Kozłowski.
The study focuses on the early medieval large glass beads from the area of Poland, i.e. specimens whose diameter equals at least 1.5 cm but usually ca. 2 cm or more. The main aim of this study is to define their function, considering precise context of discovery of particular specimens, metric data and microscopic analyses. Another important task of the study is to determine whether large beads were local products or imports, and from which region and in what social circumstances they reached the studied area. Alongside macroscopic and stylistic features, chemical composition of glass that was used for production of the beads can be conclusive in this situation. In our opinion, it is a special category of finds that appeared in this part of Europe during the time of cultural and political transformation in the 11th–13th centuries. and Předmětem studie jsou polské nálezy raně středověkých velkých skleněných korálů, tj. exemplářů, jejichž průměr činí nejméně 1,5 cm, ale obvykle kolem 2 cm či více. Hlavním cílem je přispět k objasnění jejich funkce na základě nálezového kontextu, metriky a výsledků mikroskopické analýzy. Neméně důležité jsou otázky, zda se jedná o místní produkci či o importy, jaká je jejich geografická distribuce a sociální charakteristika prostředí, ve kterém byly nalezeny. Kromě makroskopicky patrných a morfologických znaků autorky hodnotí též chemické složení korálů. Docházejí k závěru, že velké korály reprezentují samostatnou kategorii nálezů a jejich výskyt odráží kulturní a politické proměny středoevropské společnosti v 11.–13. století.
At present, the catalogue of early mediaval bridges in the nort-western part of territory with Slavic settlement contains 81 localities: 47 in Germany and 34 in Poland. In some of them more than one bridge (2 to 3 structure) was documented, bringing the total number of bridges to 101. Construction dates, different prhases in the lives of the bridges and dates ranges for when they were reapired were obtained based on dendrochronology and spartial-chronological analysis. The present anaylsis deals with 48 bridges from 37 localities in north-west Slavic territory: 22 in Germany and 16 in Poland. In 16 cases more or less probable reconstructions have been made and four basic types of bridges ascertained., Gerard Wilke., and Obsahuje seznam literatury