Download or read book On the Hunt for Medieval Whales written by Youri van den Hurk and published by British Archaeological Reports Oxford Limited. This book was released on 2020-08-27 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medieval cetacean (whales, dolphins, andporpoises) exploitation has frequently been connected to various medievalsocieties, including the Basques, Norse, Normans, and Flemish. Primarily forthe ninth to the twelfth centuries AD, it has been argued that the symbolicsignificance of cetaceans surpassed their utilitarian value and that theirconsumption was restricted to the social elite. The extent to which activewhaling was practised remains unclear. The identification of zooarchaeologicalcetacean fragments to the species level is hard and as a result they arefrequently merely identified as 'whale', resulting in a poor understanding ofhuman-cetacean interaction in the past. Zooarchaeological research as part of this study has revealed thatmedieval cetacean exploitation was widespread and especially the harbourporpoise (Phocoena phocoena), common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiopstruncatus), and the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)were frequently targeted. The exploitation additionally seems to have oftenbeen restricted to the social elite.
Download or read book On the Hunt for Medieval Whales written by Youri van den Hurk and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medieval cetacean (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) exploitation has frequently been connected to various medieval societies, including the Basques, Norse, Normans, and Flemish. Primarily for the ninth to the twelfth centuries AD, it has been argued that the symbolic significance of cetaceans surpassed their utilitarian value and that their consumption was restricted to the social elite. The extent to which active whaling was practised remains unclear. The identification of zooarchaeological cetacean fragments to the species level is hard and as a result they are frequently merely identified as 'whale', resulting in a poor understanding of human-cetacean interaction in the past. Zooarchaeological research as part of this study has revealed that medieval cetacean exploitation was widespread, especially of the harbour porpoise, common bottlenose dolphin, and the North Atlantic right whale.
Download or read book North Atlantic Right Whales written by David W. Laist and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2017-03-29 with total page 461 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fascinating story of North Atlantic right whales—from their evolutionary origin, through a thousand-year history of relentless pursuit by whalers, to ongoing efforts to rescue them from the brink of extinction. In the cold waters of the unforgiving North Atlantic Ocean, some of the heartiest humans of medieval days ventured out in search of whales. Through the centuries, people on both sides of the Atlantic became increasingly dependent on whale oil and other cetacean products. To meet this growing demand, whaling became ever more sophisticated and intense, leading to the collapse of what was once a seemingly inexhaustible supply of large cetaceans. Central to the whale's subsequent struggle for existence has been one species—the North Atlantic right whale. Conservationist David W. Laist now provides the first complete history of the North Atlantic right whale, from its earliest encounters with humans to its close brush with extinction, to its currently precarious yet hopeful status as a conservation icon. Favored by whalers because of their high yields of oil and superior baleen, these giants became known as "the right whale to hunt," and their numbers dwindled to a mere 100 individuals worldwide. Their dire status encouraged the adoption of a ban on hunting and a treaty that formed the International Whaling Commission. Recovery of the species, however, has proven elusive. Ship strikes and entanglement in commercial fishing gear have hampered herculean efforts to restore the population. Today, only about 500 right whales live along the US and Canadian Atlantic coasts—an improvement from the early twentieth century, but still a far cry from the thousands that once graced Atlantic waters. Laist's masterpiece features an incredible collection of photographs and artwork that give life to the fascinating history that unfolds in its pages. The result is a single volume that offers a comprehensive understanding of North Atlantic right whales, the role they played in the many cultures that hunted them, and our modern attempts to help them recover.
Download or read book Narwhals written by Todd McLeish and published by University of Washington Press. This book was released on 2013-06-18 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Among all the large whales on Earth, the most unusual and least studied is the narwhal, the northernmost whale on the planet and the one most threatened by global warming. Narwhals thrive in the fjords and inlets of northern Canada and Greenland. These elusive whales, whose long tusks were the stuff of medieval European myths and Inuit legends, are uniquely adapted to the Arctic ecosystem and are able to dive below thick sheets of ice to depths of up to 1,500 meters in search of their prey-halibut, cod, and squid. Join Todd McLeish as he travels high above the Arctic circle to meet: Teams of scientific researchers studying the narwhal's life cycle and the mysteries of its tusk Inuit storytellers and hunters Animals that share the narwhals' habitat: walruses, polar bears, bowhead and beluga whales, ivory gulls, and two kinds of seals McLeish consults logbooks kept by whalers and explorers and interviews folklorists and historians to tease out the relationship between the real narwhal and the mythical unicorn. In Colorado, he visits climatologists studying changes in the seasonal cycles of the Arctic ice. From a history of the trade in narwhal tusks to descriptions of narwhals' vocalizations as heard through hydrophones, Narwhals reveals the beauty and thrill of the narwhal and its habitat, and the threat it faces from a rapidly changing world. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHwaqdKyLCQ&list=UUge4MONgLFncQ1w1C_BnHcw&index=9&feature=plcp
Download or read book The Great Sperm Whale written by Richard Ellis and published by University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2011-04-06 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past several decades, Richard Ellis has produced a remarkable body of work that has been called "magnificent" (Washington Post Book World), "masterful" (Scientific American), "magical" (Men's Journal), and a "dazzling tour de force" (Christian Science Monitor). Ellis's new book-a fascinating tour through the world of the sperm whale-will surely inspire more such praise for the author heralded by Publisher Weekly as "America's foremost writer on marine research." Written with Ellis's deep knowledge and trademark passion, verve, and wit-and illustrated with a wide array of images including his own signature artwork-his study covers the full spectrum of the sperm whale's existence from its prehistoric past to its current endangered existence. Ellis, as no one else can, illuminates the iconic impact of Physeter macrocephalus ("big-headed blower") on our history, environment, and culture, with a substantial nod to Herman Melville and Moby-Dick, the great novel that put the sperm whale (and whaling) on the literary map. Ranging far and wide, Ellis covers the sperm whale's evolution, ecology, biology, anatomy, behavior, social organization, intelligence, communications, migrations, diet, and breeding. He also devotes considerable space to the whale's hunting prowess, including its clashes with the giant squid, and to the history of the whaling industry that decimated its numbers during the last two centuries. He even includes a story about a beached juvenile he helped rescue, an event that provided scientists with one of their first opportunities to observe a sperm whale in the water and up close. Offering a rich tapestry for anyone with an interest in the marvels of ocean life, Ellis's book provides an indispensable guide to the life and times of one of the planet's most intelligent, elusive, and endangered species.
Download or read book Whale Ships and Whaling written by George Francis Dow and published by Salem, Mass. : Marine Research Society. This book was released on 1925 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents the story of the Austrian child-bride who, in the "safety" of a royal marriage, was swept up in the political furies of her time and paid with her life for the luxurious excesses associated with her court.
Download or read book The Whale Road The Oathsworn Series Book 1 written by Robert Low and published by HarperCollins UK. This book was released on 2011-02-17 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW WITH THIS LIMITED-TIME DISCOUNT ON BOOK ONE OF THE SERIES. The first in the Oathsworn series, charting the adventures of a band of Vikings on the chase for the secret hoard of Attila the Hun.
Download or read book The Sea Inside written by Philip Hoare and published by Melville House. This book was released on 2014 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published: London: Fourth Estate, 2013.
Download or read book Odontocetes written by Boris M. Culik and published by UN. This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Toothed whales occur in a wide range of marine and freshwater habitats, from the Arctic to the tropics. Some species live in large river systems such as the Amazon, Ganges, Indus and Yangtze. This encyclopedia on all 72 species of toothed whales includes the most recent scientific findings on the distribution, migration, behaviour and threats to this group of whales.
Download or read book Whales Whaling and Ocean Ecosystems written by James A. Estes and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A must read for anyone interested in the ecology of whales, this timely and creative volume is sure to stimulate new research for years to come."—Annalisa Berta, San Diego State University
Download or read book Studies in the Medieval Atlantic written by B. Hudson and published by Springer. This book was released on 2012-06-04 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays offers fresh analysis of topics in the exciting area of Atlantic World studies. Challenging standard assumptions, the essays advance the argument that the Atlantic Ocean was a region that encompassed ethnic and political boundaries, in which a sub-community shaped by culture and commerce arose.
Download or read book The Book of Barely Imagined Beings written by Caspar Henderson and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2013-05-02 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Caspar Henderson takes us on an eye-opening tour of real animals that no sane human could ever have invented.” —Frans de Waal, New York Times–bestselling author With The Book of Barely Imagined Beings, Caspar Henderson offers readers a fascinating, beautifully produced modern-day menagerie. But whereas medieval bestiaries were often based on folklore and myth, the creatures that abound in Henderson’s book—from the axolotl to the zebrafish—are, with one exception, very much with us, albeit sometimes in depleted numbers. The Book of Barely Imagined Beings transports readers to a world of real creatures that seem as if they should be made up—that are somehow more astonishing than anything we might have imagined. The yeti crab, for example, uses its furry claws to farm the bacteria on which it feeds. The waterbear, meanwhile, is among nature’s “extreme survivors,” able to withstand a week unprotected in outer space. These and other strange and surprising species invite readers to reflect on what we value—or fail to value—and what we might change. A powerful combination of wit, cutting-edge natural history, and philosophical meditation, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings is an infectious and inspiring celebration of the sheer ingenuity and variety of life in a time of crisis and change. “The Book of Barely Imagined Beings is one that Pliny would have envied, Darwin applauded, and Borges relished . . . In these days of doom and gloom, I can think of nothing more rejoicing than Caspar Henderson’s magical book.” —Alberto Manguel, author of A History of Reading “Magnificent, bravura, beautiful and astoundingly interesting.” —The Sunday Times “Spell-binding, brilliantly executed, extraordinary.” —The Guardian
Download or read book Haskins Society Journal written by C. P. Lewis and published by Boydell Press. This book was released on 2001 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New perspectives on the central middle ages in western Europe cover a wide range of issues. Six papers reassess how "feudalism" is to be understood after Susan Reynolds's Fiefs and Vassals; in addition to her own response to reviews of her book, these are: consideration of the Germanic comitatus; "feudal" vocabulary in Dudo of Saint-Quentin; the titles of the early rulers of Normandy; the rise of territorial lordships in the principality of Salerno; and a broad comparative study of "military lands" in the early and central middle ages. The other five papers range over early Anglo-Saxon reuse of Roman artefacts; the exploitation of whales in early medieval Britain; Edward the Confessor's clerks; Abbot Faricius of Abingdon; and wage-rates in late twelfth- and early thirteenth-century England. Dr C.P. LEWIS is a lecturer in the School of History at the University of Liverpool. Contributors SUSAN REYNOLDS, STEVEN FANNING, FELICE LIFSHITZ, ROBERT HELMERICHS, VALERIE RAMSEYER, BERNARD S. BACHRACH, CAROL NEUMAN DE VEGVAR, VICKI ELLEN SZABO, MARY FRANCES SMITH, KEVIN SHIRLEY, PAUL LATIMER.
Download or read book Shifting Baselines written by Jeremy B.C. Jackson and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2012-06-22 with total page 309 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shifting Baselines explores the real-world implications of a groundbreaking idea: we must understand the oceans of the past to protect the oceans of the future. In 1995, acclaimed marine biologist Daniel Pauly coined the term "shifting baselines" to describe a phenomenon of lowered expectations, in which each generation regards a progressively poorer natural world as normal. This seminal volume expands on Pauly's work, showing how skewed visions of the past have led to disastrous marine policies and why historical perspective is critical to revitalize fisheries and ecosystems. Edited by marine ecologists Jeremy Jackson and Enric Sala, and historian Karen Alexander, the book brings together knowledge from disparate disciplines to paint a more realistic picture of past fisheries. The authors use case studies on the cod fishery and the connection between sardine and anchovy populations, among others, to explain various methods for studying historic trends and the intricate relationships between species. Subsequent chapters offer recommendations about both specific research methods and effective management. This practical information is framed by inspiring essays by Carl Safina and Randy Olson on a personal experience of shifting baselines and the importance of human stories in describing this phenomenon to a broad public. While each contributor brings a different expertise to bear, all agree on the importance of historical perspective for effective fisheries management. Readers, from students to professionals, will benefit enormously from this informed hindsight.
Download or read book Monstrous Fishes and the Mead Dark Sea written by Vicki E. Szabo and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2008-01-31 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Medieval people viewed whales in complex and contradictory ways, from marvelous to monstrous to mundane, heaven-sent or hell-bent. Despite this, whales are conspicuous in their absence from most historical and archaeological dialogues on the Middle Ages. Drawing upon a wealth of legal, literary and material evidence, this work details the ways in which whales were sought out and scavenged at sea and shore, fought over in legal and physical battles, and prized for meat, bone and fuel. Using Old Norse sagas, laws and material culture, alongside comparative historical and ethnographic evidence, Monstrous Fishes and the Mead-Dark Sea reexamines the value of whales in the medieval North Atlantic world.
Download or read book An Environmental History of the Middle Ages written by John Aberth and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Middle Ages was a critical and formative time for Western approaches to our natural surroundings. An Environmental History of the Middle Ages is a unique and unprecedented cultural survey of attitudes towards the environment during this period. Exploring the entire medieval period from 500 to 1500, and ranging across the whole of Europe, from England and Spain to the Baltic and Eastern Europe, John Aberth focuses his study on three key areas: the natural elements of air, water, and earth; the forest; and wild and domestic animals. Through this multi-faceted lens, An Environmental History of the Middle Ages sheds fascinating new light on the medieval environmental mindset. It will be essential reading for students, scholars and all those interested in the Middle Ages
Download or read book The Medieval Crossbow written by Stuart Ellis-Gorman and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2022-07-20 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An in-depth, illustrated history and technical study of this iconic weapon of the Middle Ages. The crossbow is an iconic weapon of the Middle Ages and, alongside the longbow, one of the most effective ranged weapons of the pre-gunpowder era. Unfortunately, despite its general fame it has been decades since an in-depth history of the medieval crossbow has been published, which is why Stuart Ellis-Gorman’s detailed, accessible, and highly illustrated study is so valuable. The Medieval Crossbow approaches the history of the crossbow from two directions. The first is a technical study of the design and construction of the medieval crossbow, the many different kinds of crossbows used during the Middle Ages, and finally a consideration of the relationship between crossbows and art. The second half of the book explores the history of the crossbow, from its origins in ancient China to its decline in sixteenth-century Europe. Along the way it explores the challenges in deciphering the crossbow’s early medieval history as well as its prominence in warfare and sport shooting in the High and Later Middle Ages. This fascinating book brings together the work of a wide range of accomplished crossbow scholars and incorporates the author’s own original research to create an account of the medieval crossbow that will appeal to anyone looking to gain an insight into one of the most important weapons of the Middle Ages.
