This dissertation examines how in eighteenth-century Europe, naturalists sought to study, grasp and capture the world of fish. Working on the intersection of the history of science and book history... Show moreThis dissertation examines how in eighteenth-century Europe, naturalists sought to study, grasp and capture the world of fish. Working on the intersection of the history of science and book history, this research aims to shed light on how naturalists came to present themselves as authorities in an emerging field. It does so by focussing on a set of ‘fish books’, i.e., natural historical works that describe and depict fish. The first is Francis Willughby and John Ray’s "Historia piscium" (Oxford, 1686); the second Peter Artedi’s "Ichthyologia sive opera omnia de piscibus" (Leiden, 1738), and the third Marcus Élieser Bloch’s twelve volume series "Allgemeine Naturgeschichte der Fische" (Berlin, 1782–1795). These works are analysed alongside correspondences, manuscripts and natural historical collections. Together, these sources show that the development of the study of fish in this period can be best be understood as a process of continuous demarcation. This dissertation argues that the study of fish was subject to recurrent debates on subject, method and practitioner, and that such discussions were of both epistemological and social nature. In presenting their fish books, naturalists leveraged such discussions as to secure a place for themselves in the capricious environment of early modern natural history. Show less
During the Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1775-1550 BC) period, Egypt was politically and culturally divided into regions, and it was characterized by the presence of groups from modern-day Syria... Show moreDuring the Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1775-1550 BC) period, Egypt was politically and culturally divided into regions, and it was characterized by the presence of groups from modern-day Syria-Palestine and Sudan. To better understand the relationships between the Egyptian sites during this period, I have analysed the objects (beads, stone vessels, scarabs and seals, metal weapons, and two particular types of pottery) that the relevant sites have in common, through network analysis. This quantitative and statistical methodology, which makes use of digital tools, is ideal to examine the relations, as well as the flow and circulation of objects, resources, information, or knowledge between different entities, based on what these entities have in common (or not). During the Second Intermediate Period, contacts can still be detected between different areas, even though they were weaker and happened mostly through desert routes. Two phenomena can be detected: the growing importance of Tell el-Dab’a/Avaris in circulation of objects and resources, and the role played by the communities of Pan-grave culture, known only form archaeological remains and featuring connections with Nubia (modern-day Sudan). Show less
This thesis illuminates painting inscriptions written in the Ming dynasty (1368-164) in a social context, revealing that inscriptions as a particular genre of text richly encompass themes... Show more This thesis illuminates painting inscriptions written in the Ming dynasty (1368-164) in a social context, revealing that inscriptions as a particular genre of text richly encompass themes relevant but not confined to social history, material culture, early modern publishing, identity construction, and self-knowledge. This thesis argues that painting inscriptions written in the Ming era are not only the result of artistic concerns; on many occasions, the production, utilization, and circulation of inscriptions had social concerns, meanings, and influences. Inscriptions as such are rich of notions, attitudes and thoughts, which can be helpful to understand Ming artists and their world, as well as an important source for scholars to explore social and intellectual history of the Ming era. This study, perhaps for the first time, brings two types of sources of inscriptions—existing paintings and textual anthologies—into the vision of academia. The two sources also represent two categories of inscriptions and their dual nature. Inscriptions are material objects with trajectories of circulation and dissemination; on the other hand, they are the texts of histories of reproduction and dissemination. The two categories of inscriptions are transmittable. A Ming painting is not a closed entity, but rather a dynamic entity. Show less
The title of this thesis, “Cultural Interaction between Assyria and the Northern Zagros”, geographically covers Assyria and the Northern Zagros and historically a period from the early... Show more The title of this thesis, “Cultural Interaction between Assyria and the Northern Zagros”, geographically covers Assyria and the Northern Zagros and historically a period from the early second millennium until the fall of Nineveh in 612 BCE. It focuses on Assyrian interaction with the Northern Zagros (or vice versa). The landscape, flora, fauna, natural resources and climate of lowland Assyria were different from those of the Zagros highlands, which led to complementary economical activity. The Northern Zagros was the nearest place for Assyria to obtain raw materials, horses, grain and manpower. Assyria often conflicted with the Northern Zagros peoples to obtain their goals. But there were also peaceful (commercial and diplomatic) negotiations between them, which led to cultural interaction of various kinds. The way these interactions were facilitated will be presented. The roles played by Assyrians, Zagrosians and others in this interaction will be dealt with. How Assyria and the Northern Zagros acted as intermediaries in cultural interaction further afield. In each chapter, textual, visual and archaeological evidence is combined to find elements of interaction. Each chapter is provided with several tables, explaining many aspects of cultural interaction between Assyria and the Northern Zagros. Show less
Freemasonry is an initiation society, active in the Netherlands since 1735. This dissertation discusses the history, rituals, material culture and iconography of freemasonry in the Netherlands and... Show moreFreemasonry is an initiation society, active in the Netherlands since 1735. This dissertation discusses the history, rituals, material culture and iconography of freemasonry in the Netherlands and its trade posts in India, Ceylon, the Dutch East Indies, China and Japan. The membership had particular advantages for travellers, which explains why ca. 20-30% of the employees of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) were members. They were involved in the trade in export art for the European and American markets, and also traded privately in goods for the masonic markets. The dissertation describes the daily routine in the lodges in the 18th and 19th centuries, the extraordinary ritual architecture and interiors of lodge buildings on Java, and the production of Chinese export porcelain and Japanese lacquer with complex symbolic decorations. The participation of women and (Eur)asians in lodges on Java is also briefly discussed. As such, the book offers those interested in art history, colonial history and/or the East India Company an introduction into a relatively unknown subject. It provides information for the identification and dating of relevant museum objects, and makes a large amount of material from lodge archives accessible. Show less
To commemorate the Dutch Revolt people from both the Northern and Southern Netherlands commissioned, kept, and collected a large variety of objects. From paintings to clay pipes, from hearth plates... Show moreTo commemorate the Dutch Revolt people from both the Northern and Southern Netherlands commissioned, kept, and collected a large variety of objects. From paintings to clay pipes, from hearth plates to gable stones, from clothing to cannonballs; all these objects were used to either remember of forget the war in the late sixteenth and seventeenth century. Especially on an urban level many of these material memories survive. They are part of an urban memory landscape, a set of shared memories which survived on several levels of the urban community and involved multiple stakeholders such as the magistrate, the church, corporations, and individual citizens. Within the urban community these stakeholders used diverse objects to promulgate a certain message about the Revolt. Subsequently this could become part of a city's urban identity and civic representation. Whether in the Dutch Republic or in the Habsburg Netherlands cities were well aware of their options either to include, exclude or reinterpret stories about the past. Material memories of the Dutch Revolt were therefore continuously and carefully (re)selected and used to reflect on what the urban community had gone through during eighty years of war Show less
