Hmmm, part 2 of a series that has no plan or format. It's just a group of related issues and fun information associated with living underground that I need to spell out for myself. Thanks for your attention and please let me know if you have any thoughts or suggestions.
One of the fascinating things about living completely within the stone is the idea that you are totally divorced from the impact of weather. When you live without sunrise, there is no need to divide the days. Apparently, animals who live underground sleep less than their surface-dwelling kin. Hmmm... is there a reason to get all of your sleep in one block? Some people swear by napping. However, most scientists seem to feel that true recovery only comes from long blocks of uninterrupted sleep. What does a year mean without seasonal variation in weather or stars (which separates this from living near the poles) and how do you keep track of time? One solution, created by Mr. Salvatore, was to have a massive column (so everyone could see it) lit every day by a slowly dissipating magic (or some similar effect). Predators and prey can be active at any hour, so it's probably a good idea to be on your toes as often as possible. Reproduction also wouldn't be tied to seasonality. Damn. It sounds like a mess down there.
Vitamin D deficiency would be an issue for humans living entirely underground. Within the body it promotes the absorption of Calcium to encourage bone growth, prevents rickets in kids, protects against osteoporosis in adults, and so on. Most Vitamin D today comes from artificially enhanced products (usually milk based). You can also get small amounts from fatty fish, beef liver, egg yolks and some mushrooms. The trick is that it is also produced by the skin reacting to UV light (from the Sun, people). Historically, this would probably be where most folks got their fix after childhood. Could be one of the reasons why folks today are generally taller and live healthier longer. Hmmm it could be a reason why folks living underground are shorter than normal in Fantasy settings... brittle bones doesn't really fit though. Again, I guess since they don't have to be human, I could ignore this entirely...
Non-aquatic species are pretty limited in cave environments. As I said before, most creatures we think of as subterranean only spend part of their time underground. Usually they move into the caves to take refuge from really nasty winter weather. However, among similar species there doesn't seem to be a single dietary plan for these creatures. In a study of cave crickets, one species stuck to its dietary plan (mostly plants and fibers) through age cycles and seasons, while the other shifted from veggies to arthropods. In an environment where resources are extremely limited, I guess creatures don't turn their noses up at any opportunity to dine.
"Subterranean" covers more than just cave dwellers. There are loads of animals that live within the soil (hell, I saw a guy once come out from his home in the side of a hill and head to work). One of the ideas that I am playing with is that creatures living underground impact surface features (giving their presence away, if you know what to look for). If animals dig tunnels, there might be ripples visible in the surface. If animals eat the roots of plants from underground, there should be stretches of browned and dying plants. In an opposite direction, if animals dig tunnels, they might aerate the soil or provide water or fertilizer in an area where you wouldn't expect plants to grow. So much fun to be had when adding in the little touches.
Shit, those could be four different posts if I was better at this whole thing. You might ask yourself why, having already recognized this, I didn't split it up. Part of it is that I want to keep some of my plans for story, secret. If I tell you everything now, where is the joy in reading? Mainly, take this as a little insight into how my mind asks questions and begins exploring. That's what I said this blog is about, right?
Anyway, is there anything else I should be considering about living underground? I can always use more help. Thanks.
Sleep Cycles - http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/cp-tec040511.php
Bio
of Subterranean Rodents -
http://books.google.com/books?id=sxmPxO7rWscC&pg=PA248&lpg=PA248&dq=subterranean+creatures&source=bl&ots=2l0cDSQ9JY&sig=UEPoZ_guO_pEW3BwD178jnprDiw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6HtaU7i6A4mpsATU8IGwDA&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBDge#v=onepage&q=subterranean%20creatures&f=false
Cave
Cricket Diet -
http://www.pensoft.net/journals/subtbiol/article/6719/measurements-of-the-diet-in-two-species-of-troglophilus-krauss-1879-cave-crickets-from-italian-subterranean-habitats-ort
Vitamin D - http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Jobs - Shepherd
One of the oldest recognized occupations, is that of the shepherd. Sheep are thought to be one of the earliest domesticated species. They were kept primarily for their milk, wool, and meat (though you can make lots of fun stuff from them). While relatively docile (unlike their devil cousins, goats, who might also be watched over by shepherds), these little beauties do have a tendency to wander off and get themselves eaten by predators, or otherwise killed; thus the need for the sheep herder (if you missed on where the word shepherd came from). While not the most respected of occupations, due to living relatively spartan lives near the animals, the shepherd has a significant place in our history.
Shepherds were often individuals who were hired to watch over a flock, not the owners. They were often drawn from the owner's family, single men or boys (but young girls could be shepherds too) who would live in rough houses out by the pastures, near their charges. Every morning the shepherd would lead the flock out of the fold to their pasturage, watch them during the day to make sure the were cared for and protected, then return them to the fold each night. Herding them properly was an important skill, enabling the shepherd to get them to pasture and also to market when it was time for the shearing. To aid in the herding, many shepherds employed dogs to keep the stock together and moving. Some shepherds also milked their sheep to make cheese. In some cases, the sheep would require protection from predators or thieves during night as well as the day.
The shepherd's crook has been co-opted by various religions for its simple symbolism, but it is a highly practical tool. The main crook was useful for hooking a sheep's leg or neck, to control the animal. The small recurve at the end of the crook could be used to hang a lantern (we've already discussed oil lamps, so check my previous posts). The staff itself was sturdy enough to aid in walking across the rough or uneven ground sure to be encountered leading sheep either to pasture or to market, or for smacking across the snout of a predator (man or beast). The shepherd doesn't just benignly guard his flock. He keeps them in line and thwacks evil-doers as well.
A shepherd was sometimes required to live off the land to properly care for his charges. He might sleep out under the stars, in a tent, or under a "burrow-hurdle (a simple lean-to) to stay near his flock. Depending upon local conditions, a large flock might need to be led from pasture to pasture to provide enough forage. Reliable water sources are not always abundant. When living in this manner, they are much more likely to encounter wild animals (wolves, lions, etc) from which they will have to defend the flock. To this purpose, they traditionally carried slings (to go with the crook) and had working dogs to support them (really, it's much easier to find info on the dogs than the men). Shepherds were required to be largely self-sufficient.
Like most animals, the digestive byproducts of sheep (manure) could be extremely important to a farm with poor soil. Southwest England, in the 19th Century, was just such a place. Instead of roaming free, the sheep were tightly penned to focus manure production and moved daily to new sites. The shepherds in these situations essentially developed mobile homes. There would be a stove in one corner, a living room, and a bedroom (surprisingly, a bathroom wasn't mentioned). One standard feature was a large door, pointed downwind, to allow the shepherd to hear his flock clearly. A complementary relationship such as this seems perfectly natural in any soil-poor region.
While not the most dynamic of positions, shepherds played an extremely important role in human history (they're still important today, just somewhat different). The pastoral ideal of the shepherd in a pasture playing his pipes, with his charges nestled in the grass around him, is a powerful one, and not entirely incorrect. Much like any outdoor job, envisioned by those working in an office, it's idealized. Being a shepherd was kinda like being a cowboy, but without the horses (they were pretty expensive then too). They were constantly exposed to the elements (we have to assume melanomas were an issue) and the predation of viscous animals (perhaps of more concern than the melanomas). Plus, they had to keep those dumb beasts in line. While perhaps not the most colorful of lifestyles for a Fantasy hero, it's certainly a fine starting-place for one, or he could simply be a reasonable person to encounter on the road (or in the field). The lowly shepherd is a worth addition to any Fantasy setting.
Biblical Info - http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/shepherd/
Shepherd's Crook - http://www.wolston.com/crooks/history.html
19th C England - http://www.shepherd-hut.co.uk/history.html
Sheep Specific Info - http://www.sheep101.info/index.html
Victorian Conditions - http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/history/work/21.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd
Shepherds were often individuals who were hired to watch over a flock, not the owners. They were often drawn from the owner's family, single men or boys (but young girls could be shepherds too) who would live in rough houses out by the pastures, near their charges. Every morning the shepherd would lead the flock out of the fold to their pasturage, watch them during the day to make sure the were cared for and protected, then return them to the fold each night. Herding them properly was an important skill, enabling the shepherd to get them to pasture and also to market when it was time for the shearing. To aid in the herding, many shepherds employed dogs to keep the stock together and moving. Some shepherds also milked their sheep to make cheese. In some cases, the sheep would require protection from predators or thieves during night as well as the day.
The shepherd's crook has been co-opted by various religions for its simple symbolism, but it is a highly practical tool. The main crook was useful for hooking a sheep's leg or neck, to control the animal. The small recurve at the end of the crook could be used to hang a lantern (we've already discussed oil lamps, so check my previous posts). The staff itself was sturdy enough to aid in walking across the rough or uneven ground sure to be encountered leading sheep either to pasture or to market, or for smacking across the snout of a predator (man or beast). The shepherd doesn't just benignly guard his flock. He keeps them in line and thwacks evil-doers as well.
A shepherd was sometimes required to live off the land to properly care for his charges. He might sleep out under the stars, in a tent, or under a "burrow-hurdle (a simple lean-to) to stay near his flock. Depending upon local conditions, a large flock might need to be led from pasture to pasture to provide enough forage. Reliable water sources are not always abundant. When living in this manner, they are much more likely to encounter wild animals (wolves, lions, etc) from which they will have to defend the flock. To this purpose, they traditionally carried slings (to go with the crook) and had working dogs to support them (really, it's much easier to find info on the dogs than the men). Shepherds were required to be largely self-sufficient.
Like most animals, the digestive byproducts of sheep (manure) could be extremely important to a farm with poor soil. Southwest England, in the 19th Century, was just such a place. Instead of roaming free, the sheep were tightly penned to focus manure production and moved daily to new sites. The shepherds in these situations essentially developed mobile homes. There would be a stove in one corner, a living room, and a bedroom (surprisingly, a bathroom wasn't mentioned). One standard feature was a large door, pointed downwind, to allow the shepherd to hear his flock clearly. A complementary relationship such as this seems perfectly natural in any soil-poor region.
While not the most dynamic of positions, shepherds played an extremely important role in human history (they're still important today, just somewhat different). The pastoral ideal of the shepherd in a pasture playing his pipes, with his charges nestled in the grass around him, is a powerful one, and not entirely incorrect. Much like any outdoor job, envisioned by those working in an office, it's idealized. Being a shepherd was kinda like being a cowboy, but without the horses (they were pretty expensive then too). They were constantly exposed to the elements (we have to assume melanomas were an issue) and the predation of viscous animals (perhaps of more concern than the melanomas). Plus, they had to keep those dumb beasts in line. While perhaps not the most colorful of lifestyles for a Fantasy hero, it's certainly a fine starting-place for one, or he could simply be a reasonable person to encounter on the road (or in the field). The lowly shepherd is a worth addition to any Fantasy setting.
Biblical Info - http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/shepherd/
Shepherd's Crook - http://www.wolston.com/crooks/history.html
19th C England - http://www.shepherd-hut.co.uk/history.html
Sheep Specific Info - http://www.sheep101.info/index.html
Victorian Conditions - http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/history/work/21.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd
Thursday, May 22, 2014
What Makes a Duke, a Duke?
It's clear to me what it means to be a king. He is (theoretically) the one guy, in a given area, who doesn't have to answer to anyone else. Most really successful kings ended up having more land than they could effectively handle. They all had friends who were looking for a share after helping out around the kingdom, so the king would start passing out land. We've all heard these titles, some of you might even have an idea as to their relative importance, but are there any rules? I guess it's time to do some research.
Common Titles of Nobility
Duke - Rules a duchy. Traditionally the highest rank of nobility below the monarch. A duchy could be independent and sovereign (ruled by a Grand Duke).
Marquess (or Marquis) - Rules a march, which is on the border of a country (uncommonly conferred in England). Similar to the German Margrave, who was a military leader (non-hereditary) on the border of a kingdom or empire (common in the Holy Roman Empire).
Count - Rules a county. This land is equivalent in size to a march, but on the interior. Confusingly, England was never split up into duchies, so a Duke's largest holding might be a county. In some countries, this was not a hereditary title and referred to a military leader. In France, the count governed a city and its immediate surroundings.
Earl - Rules an earldom (later in England, often called a shire). Previously, those of this title were chieftains in their own right in England and Scandinavia (Jarl). Those men would more properly be styled dukes.
Viscount - Rules a viscountship or viscounty. First recorded in 14th C England. These might be the vassals to a count or rule a county whose title is held by the king. A king's viscounts were non-hereditary and equivalent to a sheriff (earlier: shire-reeve).
Baron - Rules a barony. Lowest title in the peerage. Could be a direct vassal to a king or to one of the above ranks.
Baronet - Rules a baronetcy. Hereditary, but not a noble (called, sir). Many were created as a fundraising measure for the English crown.
Knight - we don't have to go through this now, do we?
The above hierarchy is based on the modern English peerage (those down through the rank of Baron count as lords). Lords could hold more than one title, though would naturally style themselves after the most impressive. Basically, the size of the holding would decrease as you go down the list. The trick is, depending on local rules, these lands could remain individual holdings or be subdivided by the landholder to create another tier of vassalage. Consequently, there might be a county or two within the confines of a duchy, and so on, making map-reading interesting.
A monarch bestowing a title did not always bestow the rights we expect in a feudal society. As mentioned above, some titles were not hereditary. In addition, some titles were granted without rights to the land generally associated (you might have a dukedom, but not a duchy). Some were originally military titles or simply conveyed the esteem in which the monarch held you. Some titles were for sale (most in essence, though some formally) to grant position in polite society. As times change, so do values.
Basically, what I've found is that my list of titles above is correct in a certain place at a certain time (and good enough for Fantasy purposes). Every country was/is different. It's a strong guideline if you want to create your own ruling elite, being a reliable list of technically, "who bows to who." It's important to remember that size does not always relate to quality in holdings, so a Baron might be richer than a Duke (especially if that Duke has vassals who take a cut), just as a Duke may be richer than his King. Holdings may also vary in size from country to country (there seems to be no real standard for that).
Much like Feudalism, titles of nobility did not originate as a whole concept. They evolved. Titles became what rulers needed them to be at the time. Some began as simple honorifics and later represented holdings, others did the reverse. This history is a dense tangle of shifting allegiances and constant power struggles that we try to piece together from diaries and ledgers. Some days I'm extremely happy to be a Fantasy writer, which means that everything is allowed, as long as you're consistent.
Note: while I use the English versions of the titles, the wiki has listings translated to a fair number of countries.
British Nobility wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nobility
Nobility in France - http://www.heraldica.org/topics/france/noblesse.htm
various wiki articles
Common Titles of Nobility
Duke - Rules a duchy. Traditionally the highest rank of nobility below the monarch. A duchy could be independent and sovereign (ruled by a Grand Duke).
Marquess (or Marquis) - Rules a march, which is on the border of a country (uncommonly conferred in England). Similar to the German Margrave, who was a military leader (non-hereditary) on the border of a kingdom or empire (common in the Holy Roman Empire).
Count - Rules a county. This land is equivalent in size to a march, but on the interior. Confusingly, England was never split up into duchies, so a Duke's largest holding might be a county. In some countries, this was not a hereditary title and referred to a military leader. In France, the count governed a city and its immediate surroundings.
Earl - Rules an earldom (later in England, often called a shire). Previously, those of this title were chieftains in their own right in England and Scandinavia (Jarl). Those men would more properly be styled dukes.
Viscount - Rules a viscountship or viscounty. First recorded in 14th C England. These might be the vassals to a count or rule a county whose title is held by the king. A king's viscounts were non-hereditary and equivalent to a sheriff (earlier: shire-reeve).
Baron - Rules a barony. Lowest title in the peerage. Could be a direct vassal to a king or to one of the above ranks.
Baronet - Rules a baronetcy. Hereditary, but not a noble (called, sir). Many were created as a fundraising measure for the English crown.
Knight - we don't have to go through this now, do we?
The above hierarchy is based on the modern English peerage (those down through the rank of Baron count as lords). Lords could hold more than one title, though would naturally style themselves after the most impressive. Basically, the size of the holding would decrease as you go down the list. The trick is, depending on local rules, these lands could remain individual holdings or be subdivided by the landholder to create another tier of vassalage. Consequently, there might be a county or two within the confines of a duchy, and so on, making map-reading interesting.
A monarch bestowing a title did not always bestow the rights we expect in a feudal society. As mentioned above, some titles were not hereditary. In addition, some titles were granted without rights to the land generally associated (you might have a dukedom, but not a duchy). Some were originally military titles or simply conveyed the esteem in which the monarch held you. Some titles were for sale (most in essence, though some formally) to grant position in polite society. As times change, so do values.
Basically, what I've found is that my list of titles above is correct in a certain place at a certain time (and good enough for Fantasy purposes). Every country was/is different. It's a strong guideline if you want to create your own ruling elite, being a reliable list of technically, "who bows to who." It's important to remember that size does not always relate to quality in holdings, so a Baron might be richer than a Duke (especially if that Duke has vassals who take a cut), just as a Duke may be richer than his King. Holdings may also vary in size from country to country (there seems to be no real standard for that).
Much like Feudalism, titles of nobility did not originate as a whole concept. They evolved. Titles became what rulers needed them to be at the time. Some began as simple honorifics and later represented holdings, others did the reverse. This history is a dense tangle of shifting allegiances and constant power struggles that we try to piece together from diaries and ledgers. Some days I'm extremely happy to be a Fantasy writer, which means that everything is allowed, as long as you're consistent.
Note: while I use the English versions of the titles, the wiki has listings translated to a fair number of countries.
British Nobility wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nobility
Nobility in France - http://www.heraldica.org/topics/france/noblesse.htm
various wiki articles
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Slavery
A slave is a person who is considered the property of another. They are a common feature, in name or in fact, throughout history and found on every continent (okay, I'm not certain about Australia, but New Zealand had them. Oh, Antarctica is probably out too if you want to be technical). While it is no longer legal to own slaves in any part of the world, millions still live in that particular form of bondage, with varying levels of blind political eyes. They have served in households, fields, brothels, workshops and quarries. Most of the world's great empires were built on the backs of slaves. Who knows how the world would have developed without this awful institution?
Enslavement of an individual could come about in a variety of ways. The most common method of enslavement throughout history seems to be the capturing of ones enemies. The Vikings took slaves (thralls) wherever they raided. While many slaves originated as prisoners of war, some were enslaved as a form of punishment or to pay a debt (usually relating to a fine for a criminal act). It has been possible to sell your children, or even yourself into slavery. In a few cases, it was even possible to buy your way back out again. The children of slaves, naturally, retained their parents' status as chattel and were viewed as a great economic benefit (though, in the Middle East, the men were often castrated and the children of slaves were often killed at birth).
Construction was one of the most visible applications of slave labor, but hardly the only one. Roman slaves were used to build: roads, aqueducts, baths, and arenas (and later fight in them). The Aztecs most likely used slave labor to build the famous stepped temples (they also sacrificed some of them when they finished). However, slaves might hold other occupations. The Romans employed some educated Greek slaves to teach their children. Slaves were often used on farms, displacing hired hands in the Old and New World. Oars were frequently crewed by slaves on the Mediterranean. Children in Feudal Japan might be bought and trained for the brothels (other places gave less training). African slaves bound for the Middle East were usually intended as concubines or soldiers, with women outnumbered men, two to one. Slaves could be personal servants and artisans as well; some even earned enough money to buy their release. Slaves served as the economic underpinning for many societies, providing cheap labor and enabling a luxurious lifestyle for the elite.
While most of us connect the practice of the slavery to Africa, throughout history, all peoples have been the victims of this practice. The Mongols raided various tribes, often selling them through Venice and Genoa (which became very well known slave markets). Markets in 6th-10th C Crimea were important for trade in the Slavonic tribes. When the Vikings weren't raiding (to make slaves), they were happy to trade in human misery. The African slave trade was alive and well, in places like Zanzibar, long before Europeans began transporting them across the Atlantic. Medieval wars between Christians and Islamic kingdoms resulted in thousands of slaves for the markets. The Irish, as well, viewed slaving as natural extension to stock trading, with Saint Patrick, most famously having been sold. Chinese slaves were exported to Portugal as trade expanded in the 16th Century. Even countries that did not explicitly trade in slaves often taxed them as goods when they passed across their borders.
The political wrangling surrounding slavery was not all about morality (or even primarily about morality). In the US Constitution, the "3/5 Compromise" determined that each slave would be worth 3/5 of a white person for the purposes of calculating representation in the House of Representatives. The Spartans subjugated their Helots (not slaves in name, but in essence) for more than three centuries, but lived in constant state of alert for fear of uprisings, possibly leading to that state's martial character. The widespread use of slave labor in the fields of Ancient Rome led to ballooning population, unemployment, and the destabilization of the Empire (Roman slaves had three major revolts. Does "Spartacus" ring a bell?). Much like modern sweatshops paying "slave wages," actual slaves allowed certain economies to decrease costs, lending a competitive economic advantage, but there were significant costs.
Like it or not, slaves have played a significant role in human history. They were teachers and artisans as well as strong backs. Many of the "Wonders of the World" were constructed with no small thanks to a slave economy. While they lacked rights and representation, slaves were a significant political issue, even when their own personal freedoms were not under debate. Their fingerprints can be found on all of humanity's greatest achievements.
Wiki Survey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery
Medieval Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_medieval_Europe
Ancient Rome - http://www.moyak.com/papers/roman-slavery-war.html
Ancient Rome - http://www.unrv.com/culture/roman-slavery.php
Cartledge, Paul (2002) The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece
Keenan, Desmond (2004). The True Origins of Irish Society
Muslim Slave Trade - http://www.aina.org/news/2006100394917.htm
3/5 Compromise - http://constitution.laws.com/three-fifths-compromise
Enslavement of an individual could come about in a variety of ways. The most common method of enslavement throughout history seems to be the capturing of ones enemies. The Vikings took slaves (thralls) wherever they raided. While many slaves originated as prisoners of war, some were enslaved as a form of punishment or to pay a debt (usually relating to a fine for a criminal act). It has been possible to sell your children, or even yourself into slavery. In a few cases, it was even possible to buy your way back out again. The children of slaves, naturally, retained their parents' status as chattel and were viewed as a great economic benefit (though, in the Middle East, the men were often castrated and the children of slaves were often killed at birth).
Construction was one of the most visible applications of slave labor, but hardly the only one. Roman slaves were used to build: roads, aqueducts, baths, and arenas (and later fight in them). The Aztecs most likely used slave labor to build the famous stepped temples (they also sacrificed some of them when they finished). However, slaves might hold other occupations. The Romans employed some educated Greek slaves to teach their children. Slaves were often used on farms, displacing hired hands in the Old and New World. Oars were frequently crewed by slaves on the Mediterranean. Children in Feudal Japan might be bought and trained for the brothels (other places gave less training). African slaves bound for the Middle East were usually intended as concubines or soldiers, with women outnumbered men, two to one. Slaves could be personal servants and artisans as well; some even earned enough money to buy their release. Slaves served as the economic underpinning for many societies, providing cheap labor and enabling a luxurious lifestyle for the elite.
While most of us connect the practice of the slavery to Africa, throughout history, all peoples have been the victims of this practice. The Mongols raided various tribes, often selling them through Venice and Genoa (which became very well known slave markets). Markets in 6th-10th C Crimea were important for trade in the Slavonic tribes. When the Vikings weren't raiding (to make slaves), they were happy to trade in human misery. The African slave trade was alive and well, in places like Zanzibar, long before Europeans began transporting them across the Atlantic. Medieval wars between Christians and Islamic kingdoms resulted in thousands of slaves for the markets. The Irish, as well, viewed slaving as natural extension to stock trading, with Saint Patrick, most famously having been sold. Chinese slaves were exported to Portugal as trade expanded in the 16th Century. Even countries that did not explicitly trade in slaves often taxed them as goods when they passed across their borders.
The political wrangling surrounding slavery was not all about morality (or even primarily about morality). In the US Constitution, the "3/5 Compromise" determined that each slave would be worth 3/5 of a white person for the purposes of calculating representation in the House of Representatives. The Spartans subjugated their Helots (not slaves in name, but in essence) for more than three centuries, but lived in constant state of alert for fear of uprisings, possibly leading to that state's martial character. The widespread use of slave labor in the fields of Ancient Rome led to ballooning population, unemployment, and the destabilization of the Empire (Roman slaves had three major revolts. Does "Spartacus" ring a bell?). Much like modern sweatshops paying "slave wages," actual slaves allowed certain economies to decrease costs, lending a competitive economic advantage, but there were significant costs.
Like it or not, slaves have played a significant role in human history. They were teachers and artisans as well as strong backs. Many of the "Wonders of the World" were constructed with no small thanks to a slave economy. While they lacked rights and representation, slaves were a significant political issue, even when their own personal freedoms were not under debate. Their fingerprints can be found on all of humanity's greatest achievements.
Wiki Survey - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery
Medieval Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_medieval_Europe
Ancient Rome - http://www.moyak.com/papers/roman-slavery-war.html
Ancient Rome - http://www.unrv.com/culture/roman-slavery.php
Cartledge, Paul (2002) The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece
Keenan, Desmond (2004). The True Origins of Irish Society
Muslim Slave Trade - http://www.aina.org/news/2006100394917.htm
3/5 Compromise - http://constitution.laws.com/three-fifths-compromise
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Sleeping Equipment
While I may joke about myself being an extremely lazy individual, I'm not sure that it's precisely true. Of course, today's topic will not help my side of the argument. I've spent enough time sleeping outside (camping. come on, I don't drink that much) to realize that folks must've started looking for softer places to rest their heads long before we had the ability to ask the locals for the nearest hotel. Naturally, the modern foam and spring mattress bears little resemblance to more traditional styles, but what did they use?
It turns out that mattress technology (like so many others) reached some early peaks and didn't really advance until relatively recently. In Ancient Rome, they were stuffing cloth bags (tick mattresses) with reeds, straw, wool, or feathers to sleep upon (though feathers were just for the rich). Surprisingly, water beds made of animal skins were made in Persia in 3600BC. Following the Crusades, many knights who returned to Europe began to sleep on piled cushions, in the Arabic tradition. While they never seem to have figured out waterbeds, Medieval Europe did begin to cover their tick mattresses with velvets and brocades in the 15th Century. Way to go, fellas.
Beds have been a piece of furniture as far back as Ancient Egypt. Originally, they were general purpose pieces of furniture (like modern day-beds) from which the owner could eat meals or entertain guests. It's important to remember that the separate bedroom was relatively uncommon in Europe (even lords might sleep in the great hall) until modern times and still requires a certain financial level (ever been in a studio apartment?), so big pieces had to be multi-use. It wasn't until the 16th and 17th Centuries that the timber frame bed, with rope or leather straps, became common. Featherbeds had to be placed on a firmer mattress (assuming the bed was suspended) and required reforming every morning. Cotton didn't start to be used as a filler until the 18th Century (this might have been changed by the cotton gin).
One of the joyous inventions from Central America is the hammock. Attributed to the Maya of a thousand years ago, these woven strands which suspend their occupants between two points, are a beautiful way to rest. It was suggested that they may have built small fires under the hammocks to keep warm and fend off insects, though that seems pretty frightening. In the 16th Century, they were adopted by the imperialist navies as great space-saving devices (plus they swing with the swells). The rocking motion is a beautiful feature, but there are a number of other benefits. They help keep you cool in warm weather by increasing airflow over the body. Getting off of the ground where things like to nibble on you is always a good idea. They pack up very small, making it easy to transport or store (as well as easy to string up). I definitely have to install heavy duty hooks in my next apartment for mine.
It's a shame that European sleep science didn't make much in the way of advances for a thousand years or more. Thank goodness modern scientists have straightened out their priorities. I can only imagine the ruckus caused by tossing and turning on a straw tick mattress. Once the rustling stopped, it'd probably be as hard as a rock. You have to think that they're more susceptible to moisture and vermin as well. "Hmmm, do I just need to wash the sheets or is that my mattress mouldering?" Maybe the Japanese had it right after all, sleeping on thin futons and wooden pillows (ok, they used buckwheat hull pillows too).
mattress timeline - http://www.slideshare.net/radar0arrow/the-history-of-the-bed-mattress
Mattress timeline - http://bettersleep.org/mattresses-and-more/history-of-the-mattress
Feather Beds & Duvets - http://www.oldandinteresting.com/history-feather-beds.aspx
Short History of Beds - http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/bed.htm
Mattress Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattress
Hammock History - http://www.history.com/news/hammocks-rocking-history
Japanese - http://www.jlifeinternational.com/houseitems/futon/futon-info_e.html
It turns out that mattress technology (like so many others) reached some early peaks and didn't really advance until relatively recently. In Ancient Rome, they were stuffing cloth bags (tick mattresses) with reeds, straw, wool, or feathers to sleep upon (though feathers were just for the rich). Surprisingly, water beds made of animal skins were made in Persia in 3600BC. Following the Crusades, many knights who returned to Europe began to sleep on piled cushions, in the Arabic tradition. While they never seem to have figured out waterbeds, Medieval Europe did begin to cover their tick mattresses with velvets and brocades in the 15th Century. Way to go, fellas.
Beds have been a piece of furniture as far back as Ancient Egypt. Originally, they were general purpose pieces of furniture (like modern day-beds) from which the owner could eat meals or entertain guests. It's important to remember that the separate bedroom was relatively uncommon in Europe (even lords might sleep in the great hall) until modern times and still requires a certain financial level (ever been in a studio apartment?), so big pieces had to be multi-use. It wasn't until the 16th and 17th Centuries that the timber frame bed, with rope or leather straps, became common. Featherbeds had to be placed on a firmer mattress (assuming the bed was suspended) and required reforming every morning. Cotton didn't start to be used as a filler until the 18th Century (this might have been changed by the cotton gin).
One of the joyous inventions from Central America is the hammock. Attributed to the Maya of a thousand years ago, these woven strands which suspend their occupants between two points, are a beautiful way to rest. It was suggested that they may have built small fires under the hammocks to keep warm and fend off insects, though that seems pretty frightening. In the 16th Century, they were adopted by the imperialist navies as great space-saving devices (plus they swing with the swells). The rocking motion is a beautiful feature, but there are a number of other benefits. They help keep you cool in warm weather by increasing airflow over the body. Getting off of the ground where things like to nibble on you is always a good idea. They pack up very small, making it easy to transport or store (as well as easy to string up). I definitely have to install heavy duty hooks in my next apartment for mine.
It's a shame that European sleep science didn't make much in the way of advances for a thousand years or more. Thank goodness modern scientists have straightened out their priorities. I can only imagine the ruckus caused by tossing and turning on a straw tick mattress. Once the rustling stopped, it'd probably be as hard as a rock. You have to think that they're more susceptible to moisture and vermin as well. "Hmmm, do I just need to wash the sheets or is that my mattress mouldering?" Maybe the Japanese had it right after all, sleeping on thin futons and wooden pillows (ok, they used buckwheat hull pillows too).
mattress timeline - http://www.slideshare.net/radar0arrow/the-history-of-the-bed-mattress
Mattress timeline - http://bettersleep.org/mattresses-and-more/history-of-the-mattress
Feather Beds & Duvets - http://www.oldandinteresting.com/history-feather-beds.aspx
Short History of Beds - http://inventors.about.com/od/bstartinventions/a/bed.htm
Mattress Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattress
Hammock History - http://www.history.com/news/hammocks-rocking-history
Japanese - http://www.jlifeinternational.com/houseitems/futon/futon-info_e.html
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
The Way of the Fork
As you wander the world and spend time amongst people of various cultures and backgrounds, it's fascinating to see what is socially acceptable. One of the places where the limits of taste are most clearly defined is over the dinner table. Growing up, my brothers and I were instructed by our parents on what was considered to be appropriate. Like most sets of societal rules, these were adhered to more stringently in public, but we were always reprimanded for "gounching" on the chairs (does anyone else know what this is?) or wearing a hat at the table. Happily, in this day and age, being and outsider is generally excuse enough for not being perfectly in tune with local customs so as to not cause too much offense, but they still judge you.
Comedies of manner have long made a joke of the country bumpkin (or a hooker with a heart of gold) being overwhelmed with the sheer quantity of forks at his/her disposal at a formal meal. Imagine, if you will, the time when the fork was making its transition from the serving tray to the dining plate. By the 10th Century they were being used throughout the Middle East, but didn't become common in most of mainland Europe (Italy was the early adopter) until the 18th. To those fresh to the idea, it must have looked like someone using one of those wheel-shaped pizza cutters on their pancakes. The habit took some time to catch on, spreading slowly from royalty to commoners, with loads of detractors along the way. Many thought eating with forks to be effeminate. What kind of man wouldn't just use his fingers? Then, of course, as they became more popular, those who went without them at table were looked upon as barbarians. For quite some time, they were rare enough that you would still have to bring your fork with you to dinner.
At my parents' house, we always had paper napkins with dinner, which were to be placed on your lap at the start of the meal. Yeah, after living abroad for a few years, I definitely got out of the habit. The Spartans are credited with the first napkins, which were simple pieces of dough used to remove the grease from their fingers, which later became a piece of bread (nice and absorbent I guess). In Roman times, you might have a sudaria (handkerchief) and a mappa (tablecloth/doggy bag), made of cloth, that you brought with you to dinner. During the Middle Ages, most common Europeans used the back of their hand, their sleeve, or that piece of bread to wipe their mouths. Napkins became a communal appliance among the well-to-do and at feasts, brought at need by a servant (maintained today with the tradition of the waiter's towel), with or without the use of a fingerbowl. The size and proper usage of napkins seem to have shifted innumerable times before they reached their modern state, which is still not standardized. No wonder I could never quite keep it all straight.
While I have discussed some drinking traditions before (I think in the "Booze" post. it's getting tough to keep track), it might be good to reflect on the methods of imbibing spirits. Granted, I was in a fraternity, but contrary to popular belief, I do enjoy savoring fine spirits. However, when handed a shot glass in a foreign country, it's often a crap-shoot as to the appropriate method of imbibing. If you sip at it, there is the possibility they will think you unmanly. If you take it all in one gulp, you may be thought of as uncouth or a drunkard. I'll leave it to your own discretion as to which is worse (though that may depend on the circumstances). Most places where you are expected to savor the beverage, you are served with a more ornate vessel than the modern "shot glass," but it ain't necessarily so. You could ask for guidance, I suppose, but that probably says something about you too.
Goodness there are innumerable rules for the table. We haven't gotten to eating with the wrong hand in the Middle East, belching over dinner, leaving food on the plate at the end of the meal, or that (possibly apocryphal) story about a man dying from not being allowed to leave the table during dinner to relieve himself. I think that today's essay has given enough food for thought on the topic for now. The next time you're out for dinner and you forget which one is the dessert fork (psst, it's the one above your plate), smile to yourself as you remember that once upon a time there was a man who sat at table thinking, "They eat with those things?"
How about you? Is there some surprising eating custom or tradition that you've encountered? Have you ever embarrassed yourself at table with you "barbarian" habits?
Fork History - http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/design/2012/06/the_history_of_the_fork_when_we_started_using_forks_and_how_their_design_changed_over_time_.html
Fork History - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork
Napkins - http://www.foodreference.com/html/art-history-napkins-729.html
Napkins - http://whatscookingamerica.net/EllenEaston/Napkins-History.htm
Comedies of manner have long made a joke of the country bumpkin (or a hooker with a heart of gold) being overwhelmed with the sheer quantity of forks at his/her disposal at a formal meal. Imagine, if you will, the time when the fork was making its transition from the serving tray to the dining plate. By the 10th Century they were being used throughout the Middle East, but didn't become common in most of mainland Europe (Italy was the early adopter) until the 18th. To those fresh to the idea, it must have looked like someone using one of those wheel-shaped pizza cutters on their pancakes. The habit took some time to catch on, spreading slowly from royalty to commoners, with loads of detractors along the way. Many thought eating with forks to be effeminate. What kind of man wouldn't just use his fingers? Then, of course, as they became more popular, those who went without them at table were looked upon as barbarians. For quite some time, they were rare enough that you would still have to bring your fork with you to dinner.
At my parents' house, we always had paper napkins with dinner, which were to be placed on your lap at the start of the meal. Yeah, after living abroad for a few years, I definitely got out of the habit. The Spartans are credited with the first napkins, which were simple pieces of dough used to remove the grease from their fingers, which later became a piece of bread (nice and absorbent I guess). In Roman times, you might have a sudaria (handkerchief) and a mappa (tablecloth/doggy bag), made of cloth, that you brought with you to dinner. During the Middle Ages, most common Europeans used the back of their hand, their sleeve, or that piece of bread to wipe their mouths. Napkins became a communal appliance among the well-to-do and at feasts, brought at need by a servant (maintained today with the tradition of the waiter's towel), with or without the use of a fingerbowl. The size and proper usage of napkins seem to have shifted innumerable times before they reached their modern state, which is still not standardized. No wonder I could never quite keep it all straight.
While I have discussed some drinking traditions before (I think in the "Booze" post. it's getting tough to keep track), it might be good to reflect on the methods of imbibing spirits. Granted, I was in a fraternity, but contrary to popular belief, I do enjoy savoring fine spirits. However, when handed a shot glass in a foreign country, it's often a crap-shoot as to the appropriate method of imbibing. If you sip at it, there is the possibility they will think you unmanly. If you take it all in one gulp, you may be thought of as uncouth or a drunkard. I'll leave it to your own discretion as to which is worse (though that may depend on the circumstances). Most places where you are expected to savor the beverage, you are served with a more ornate vessel than the modern "shot glass," but it ain't necessarily so. You could ask for guidance, I suppose, but that probably says something about you too.
Goodness there are innumerable rules for the table. We haven't gotten to eating with the wrong hand in the Middle East, belching over dinner, leaving food on the plate at the end of the meal, or that (possibly apocryphal) story about a man dying from not being allowed to leave the table during dinner to relieve himself. I think that today's essay has given enough food for thought on the topic for now. The next time you're out for dinner and you forget which one is the dessert fork (psst, it's the one above your plate), smile to yourself as you remember that once upon a time there was a man who sat at table thinking, "They eat with those things?"
How about you? Is there some surprising eating custom or tradition that you've encountered? Have you ever embarrassed yourself at table with you "barbarian" habits?
Fork History - http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/design/2012/06/the_history_of_the_fork_when_we_started_using_forks_and_how_their_design_changed_over_time_.html
Fork History - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fork
Napkins - http://www.foodreference.com/html/art-history-napkins-729.html
Napkins - http://whatscookingamerica.net/EllenEaston/Napkins-History.htm
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Subterranean Creatures (part 1)
Recently I've been working on developing a setting that is near and dear to my heart, underground (not my heart, the setting is underground). Subterranean passages have been a favorite stomping ground for the adventurous sort since the early days of the genre. Journey to the Center of the Earth took us on a wild adventure into the depths and RA Salvatore built a career on a character who sprang from the abyssal deeps. Unfortunately, I like to build within the realm of reason (though I still love magic), so much of my predecessors' work is not useful to me (in a professional sense. I still enjoy reading them). The question now becomes, "How can you evolve a culture that spends most/all of its life underground?"
One variety of cave is formed by groundwater dissolving carbonate or sulfate rocks. Consequently, water is a common element in these environs. Cave systems may run for miles and some include massive dramatic chambers. They have long been havens for creatures looking for shelter, but few live solely within their confines. Much like island environments (The Galapagos Islands, Madagascar), many cave systems have evolved unique ecologies and denizens.
Many types of creatures have come to live in the cold dark. Certain types of fish, beetles, spiders, salamanders, and more have all come to call the netherworld home. Many have lost the bright colors of the outside world. Their eyes have frequently become simply photo-receptors, when they retain them at all. This has led to a preponderance of antennae and other feeling searching reaching methods. Some of these creatures have even evolved bioluminesence (including some millipedes) for some reason or other. Much like creatures of the deep ocean, cave dwellers can be startlingly different from surface species. There is a wide variety of creatures who have adapted to this challenging terrain, but one thing of note that they all have in common is that they are all small.
You may have noticed is that there are no mammals that live entirely beneath the earth. Sure, bears may hibernate in caves and there are plenty of creatures who den in holes in the ground, but they require trips to the surface to survive. Additionally, many of the creatures we think of as subterranean (termites, worms, moles) live in the dirt, not the rock. The primary reason for all of this is the need for energy (calories). Most of the foodstuffs that we bigger animals enjoy need the sunshine to grow or eat the things that eat the things needing sunshine to grow. Consequently, to make it possible to live underground, we need to figure out a food source.
The difficulty of establishing a food source within rock is unlocking the nutrients that organisms need to survive. Most seem to live in and around the water, since it can carry biologic material from the surface as well as dissolved minerals from the rock. You can see the problem. There is simply not enough caloric volume in these sources to support higher order creatures. So, to enable a culture to develop in the depths, we have to do some finagling.
Introducing a group of rational creatures to this environment can change everything. Because these creatures could not have originally evolved in the depths, we can assume that they brought some of their skills and knowledge of the surface world with them as they adapted to their new environment. Would they be farmers? Hunters? Herdsmen? How would they alter this new world to suit their needs? An intelligent species could certainly change the rules of underground existence, but it would have to begin in a calculated manner. However, once we start messing with things, all kinds of unexpected consequences can develop. That is where the fun starts.
One more important question you should ask when devising this environment, "Why would a group of rational creatures choose to move underground?"
Australia - http://www.livescience.com/7902-850-blind-pale-creatures-discovered-underground.html
Australia w/pics - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/photogalleries/new-species-underground-creatures-missions/
Termites - http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/termites/formosan_termite.htm
Amazing Photographer's Blog - http://anotheca.com/wordpress/2009/05/18/subterranean-wildlife/
Geology of Caves - http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/cave/cave.html
One variety of cave is formed by groundwater dissolving carbonate or sulfate rocks. Consequently, water is a common element in these environs. Cave systems may run for miles and some include massive dramatic chambers. They have long been havens for creatures looking for shelter, but few live solely within their confines. Much like island environments (The Galapagos Islands, Madagascar), many cave systems have evolved unique ecologies and denizens.
Many types of creatures have come to live in the cold dark. Certain types of fish, beetles, spiders, salamanders, and more have all come to call the netherworld home. Many have lost the bright colors of the outside world. Their eyes have frequently become simply photo-receptors, when they retain them at all. This has led to a preponderance of antennae and other feeling searching reaching methods. Some of these creatures have even evolved bioluminesence (including some millipedes) for some reason or other. Much like creatures of the deep ocean, cave dwellers can be startlingly different from surface species. There is a wide variety of creatures who have adapted to this challenging terrain, but one thing of note that they all have in common is that they are all small.
You may have noticed is that there are no mammals that live entirely beneath the earth. Sure, bears may hibernate in caves and there are plenty of creatures who den in holes in the ground, but they require trips to the surface to survive. Additionally, many of the creatures we think of as subterranean (termites, worms, moles) live in the dirt, not the rock. The primary reason for all of this is the need for energy (calories). Most of the foodstuffs that we bigger animals enjoy need the sunshine to grow or eat the things that eat the things needing sunshine to grow. Consequently, to make it possible to live underground, we need to figure out a food source.
The difficulty of establishing a food source within rock is unlocking the nutrients that organisms need to survive. Most seem to live in and around the water, since it can carry biologic material from the surface as well as dissolved minerals from the rock. You can see the problem. There is simply not enough caloric volume in these sources to support higher order creatures. So, to enable a culture to develop in the depths, we have to do some finagling.
Introducing a group of rational creatures to this environment can change everything. Because these creatures could not have originally evolved in the depths, we can assume that they brought some of their skills and knowledge of the surface world with them as they adapted to their new environment. Would they be farmers? Hunters? Herdsmen? How would they alter this new world to suit their needs? An intelligent species could certainly change the rules of underground existence, but it would have to begin in a calculated manner. However, once we start messing with things, all kinds of unexpected consequences can develop. That is where the fun starts.
One more important question you should ask when devising this environment, "Why would a group of rational creatures choose to move underground?"
Australia - http://www.livescience.com/7902-850-blind-pale-creatures-discovered-underground.html
Australia w/pics - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/photogalleries/new-species-underground-creatures-missions/
Termites - http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/termites/formosan_termite.htm
Amazing Photographer's Blog - http://anotheca.com/wordpress/2009/05/18/subterranean-wildlife/
Geology of Caves - http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/cave/cave.html
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Traditional Petroleum Uses
Petroleum has been used since ancient times for a variety of tasks, but not every source is suitable for every purpose. Oil reserves come in many shapes and sizes. Naturally occurring oil is not just the inky black stuff you see gushing out of wells in the movies. It can be dark brown, yellowish, reddish, or even greenish in color. The texture can be extremely heavy and thick, like tar, or light and smooth. It can be mixed in sands (crude bitumen) or in water. Oil refining on a large scale did not begin until the 19th Century. Oil shale has become financially viable for oil production only recently, due to the birth of fracking technology. Prior to these technological developments, the uses to which oil was put depended largely upon the naturally occurring form in the region.
Asphalt (commonly misidentified as tar, as in The La Brea Tar Pits, or as pitch) occurs in nature in both pool and rock form (modern asphalt is usually a crude oil byproduct). Rock asphalt has various percentages of tar mixed with sandstone or limestone. With modern machinery, this rock can be crushed and used for road surface with little to no processing. Asphalt's exposure at the surface has allowed the more volatile chemicals to evaporate, making it a poor fuel source. The first written evidence of its use is by the Babylonians, circa 625 BC. It was mixed with burned brick to pave Procession Street, leading from the palace to the north wall of Babylon (possibly also used as a building material). Asphalt was used by the Egyptians in the process of embalming their mummies. It was later used by the Romans to seal their baths, reservoirs, and aqueducts. Tar has also been used as an adhesive, as well as a way to waterproof clothing and containers.
Crude oil rises naturally to the surface in some places as seeps (which can be drilled and pumped for higher rates of removal). This oil retains its volatility allowing it to be useful for such things as fueling lamps and making fire arrows (Persians 480BC). The Chinese were first reported to be drilling for oil (using bamboo) around 347 AD, but have apparently been doing it for over 2,000 years (even piping in a natural gas/air mix for illumination). These early drilling discoveries resulted from attempts to find briny water for salt production. Oil has been used for medicinal purposes (gout, mange, diphtheria, cramps, colds, coughs, burns, cuts, and who knows what else) in various regions throughout the world, though most references seem to refer to the "white" variety (possibly kerosene). Oil was reportedly already a staple of trade in 10th Century Baku (modern day Azerbaijan). Natural oil springs that were later exploited north of Baghdad, called "eternal flames," had been burning since at least 600BC.
The first written mention of refining oil into kerosene (aka: paraffin, white naphtha) comes from 9th Century Persia. Two methods were described using an alembic to distill the oil. One method used clay to absorb the volatile chemicals while the other used ammonium chloride. In addition to crude oil, oil shale and bitumen were also used as source materials for this method. With a relatively high flash point (100-150deg F) and low flame temperature (relatively), kerosene is a safer material than crude oil, as well as being cleaner burning. Small scale refining may have reached Europe around the 12th Century. It is thought that it was this refined naphtha that was was the primary component of "Greek Fire" and was later used (launched in barrels by mangonels) to burn Baghdad during a siege in 810-813 AD. Clay pots of naphtha were used by the Syrians during the Crusades to burn Fustat, to keep it out of European hands (these pots are likely the inspiration for GRRM's wildfire fruits). It was probably this exposure to petroleum's military aspect that encouraged Western Europe to begin its own research in the field.
The many outstanding characteristics of petroleum made it a desirable commodity long before we learned how to turn it into plastic or conceived of internal combustion. Sources have been found on every continent, though some more plentiful than others. It has been utilized in construction, medicine, illumination, and warfare since the days of old. In its various forms it may be known for durability or volatility. It has been a source of wealth for more than a thousand years. The presence of a material such as this would be a game changer on any world. Be careful to whom you offer it in yours.
Note: The "tar" and "pitch" traditionally produced in Medieval Europe (for waterproofing and shipbuilding) was a material derived from pine trees as a byproduct of making charcoal and had a sweet musky scent.
Sources
Where oil comes from - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PrSZMOCnWU&list=UUje_eGYF31gCVmmNj-Njy1A&index=6&feature=plcp&hd=1
Oil Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum
Petroleum Geology - http://www.petroleumgeology.org/geologyandpetroleum.cfm
Asphalt History - http://www.asphaltpavement.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21:history-of-asphalt&catid=196:uncategorised&Itemid=57#
Rock Asphalt - http://geology.about.com/od/rocks/ig/sedrockindex/rocpicasphalt.htm
Timeline of Uses - http://www.geohelp.net/world.html
Chinese Oil - http://www.historylines.net/history/chinese/oil_well.html
General History Summary - http://dnr.louisiana.gov/assets/TAD/education/BGBB/2/ancient_use.html
General History Summary - http://grandemotte.wordpress.com/peak-oil-4-exploration-history/
Kerosene Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene
Medieval Islam Weaponizing (fantastic) - http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199501/the.oil.weapons.htm
 |
| http://www.asiagilsonite.com/?page=specification |
Asphalt (commonly misidentified as tar, as in The La Brea Tar Pits, or as pitch) occurs in nature in both pool and rock form (modern asphalt is usually a crude oil byproduct). Rock asphalt has various percentages of tar mixed with sandstone or limestone. With modern machinery, this rock can be crushed and used for road surface with little to no processing. Asphalt's exposure at the surface has allowed the more volatile chemicals to evaporate, making it a poor fuel source. The first written evidence of its use is by the Babylonians, circa 625 BC. It was mixed with burned brick to pave Procession Street, leading from the palace to the north wall of Babylon (possibly also used as a building material). Asphalt was used by the Egyptians in the process of embalming their mummies. It was later used by the Romans to seal their baths, reservoirs, and aqueducts. Tar has also been used as an adhesive, as well as a way to waterproof clothing and containers.
Crude oil rises naturally to the surface in some places as seeps (which can be drilled and pumped for higher rates of removal). This oil retains its volatility allowing it to be useful for such things as fueling lamps and making fire arrows (Persians 480BC). The Chinese were first reported to be drilling for oil (using bamboo) around 347 AD, but have apparently been doing it for over 2,000 years (even piping in a natural gas/air mix for illumination). These early drilling discoveries resulted from attempts to find briny water for salt production. Oil has been used for medicinal purposes (gout, mange, diphtheria, cramps, colds, coughs, burns, cuts, and who knows what else) in various regions throughout the world, though most references seem to refer to the "white" variety (possibly kerosene). Oil was reportedly already a staple of trade in 10th Century Baku (modern day Azerbaijan). Natural oil springs that were later exploited north of Baghdad, called "eternal flames," had been burning since at least 600BC.
 |
| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alembic |
The many outstanding characteristics of petroleum made it a desirable commodity long before we learned how to turn it into plastic or conceived of internal combustion. Sources have been found on every continent, though some more plentiful than others. It has been utilized in construction, medicine, illumination, and warfare since the days of old. In its various forms it may be known for durability or volatility. It has been a source of wealth for more than a thousand years. The presence of a material such as this would be a game changer on any world. Be careful to whom you offer it in yours.
Note: The "tar" and "pitch" traditionally produced in Medieval Europe (for waterproofing and shipbuilding) was a material derived from pine trees as a byproduct of making charcoal and had a sweet musky scent.
Sources
Where oil comes from - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PrSZMOCnWU&list=UUje_eGYF31gCVmmNj-Njy1A&index=6&feature=plcp&hd=1
Oil Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum
Petroleum Geology - http://www.petroleumgeology.org/geologyandpetroleum.cfm
Asphalt History - http://www.asphaltpavement.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21:history-of-asphalt&catid=196:uncategorised&Itemid=57#
Rock Asphalt - http://geology.about.com/od/rocks/ig/sedrockindex/rocpicasphalt.htm
Timeline of Uses - http://www.geohelp.net/world.html
Chinese Oil - http://www.historylines.net/history/chinese/oil_well.html
General History Summary - http://dnr.louisiana.gov/assets/TAD/education/BGBB/2/ancient_use.html
General History Summary - http://grandemotte.wordpress.com/peak-oil-4-exploration-history/
Kerosene Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene
Medieval Islam Weaponizing (fantastic) - http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199501/the.oil.weapons.htm
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Idiom in Artifice
As I may have mentioned, all of this researching and the information that I present here is an attempt to flesh out the world in which my stories take place (I promise I'll get them to the general public when they are ready). Utilizing language to transcribe the fruits of your imagination is a difficult business at best. Add to this a layer of Medieval style Fantasy and we impose certain limitations on language. Using turns of phrase in Fantasy writing can be an especially tricky thing. Idiom is a shorthand allowing access to a wide range of emotions and understanding, but is not always appropriate for a given setting. Obviously, suggesting that a madman has "faulty wiring" won't fly, but does the term "won't fly" fit if humans don't do it?
It's not an easy question and just because it doesn't exactly fit in your setting doesn't mean it is necessarily wrong to use it. I just love thinking about where old phrases might have come from and it's my blog, so here we go.
Referring to someone as a "whipping boy" refers to a very specific cultural moment. In 15th and 16th Century England, the divine heirs to the throne could not be physically disciplined, so they had a close companion who took the punishment for them. The idea was that the heir would not wish to see their friend chastised for a royal mistake. While modern usage (as a scapegoat, which has its own interesting history) differs from the original meaning of the phrase, there should be some cultural history in the world it's used that makes this term appropriate to the user.
"Three strikes (and you're out)" is a phrase that has crept into the vernacular, but seems to have a pretty specific origin. My understanding of it is as a baseball term. I've often heard it used when disciplining children. More recently, it has been adopted by law enforcement in an effort to give offenders more than a second chance, but to still not be too lenient. I've spent enough time in other countries to know that baseball is not quite as well known in the rest of the world. "Strikes" are otherwise connected to violence and not general misbehavior. Honestly, there are a host of sports related sayings that really don't translate, with some more obvious than others.
There are many terms taken from history that use the name of a specific class or people as stereotypes. Patricians and Plebeians are social rankings from Ancient Rome. The Vandals were a Germanic tribe, as were the Visigoths (was it just my mom who referred to people with bad manners as such?). Some words are so deeply enmeshed in modern English that they are not generally recognized (vandal), but others remain clear cultural references which might not exist in the history of your world.
When you mention "The Prodigal Son,"everyone gets what you mean. Well... sort of. As I was reminded a while ago, "prodigal" doesn't mean "long absent," it means "wasteful." The second difficulty relates to this being a Biblical reference and more specifically a parable of Jesus'. While it is not an essential element of faith, it does connect to the idea of absolute forgiveness. There are no consequences following this wasteful son's return, except for the responsible brother's jealousy (for which the responsible brother is reprimanded). It's certainly possible for you to include a culture where forgiveness is a strong element, but it doesn't seem all that common in the genre.
A garter snake and a water moccasin are both named after articles of clothing. How each got their names, I couldn't really say, but if your people have never used garters, why use it to name your wildlife? I understand that mentioning a "small non-venomous snake" is not as immersive as a garter snake slipping through the tall grass, but find a different way to say it. With that one, I'm probably nit picking, as you might not bother to mention the use of garters in your setting (like you might not mention the use of other types of underwear, or even the presence of nits in the community). All I'm saying is that names like these have connections to history and culture. When you use them, you import certain elements along with them.
I'm certainly not a fanatic about eliminating parts of my vocabulary to maintain internal consistency. In my world without a moon, I wouldn't hesitate to call a madman a lunatic, but I wouldn't say a woman was getting her "moon blood." Every word has to come from somewhere and some words have been more thoroughly incorporated into English than others, but you need to be careful. It's an extremely fine line between immersing the audience with a detail and jarring them with something out of place. The gray area is enormous and varies from person to person. Most people don't care, but I might have difficulty with someone flagellating themselves in a world that has never known Flagellants.
Whipping Boy - http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/whipping-boy.html
Garter - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_%28stockings%29
Flagellant - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellant
It's not an easy question and just because it doesn't exactly fit in your setting doesn't mean it is necessarily wrong to use it. I just love thinking about where old phrases might have come from and it's my blog, so here we go.
Referring to someone as a "whipping boy" refers to a very specific cultural moment. In 15th and 16th Century England, the divine heirs to the throne could not be physically disciplined, so they had a close companion who took the punishment for them. The idea was that the heir would not wish to see their friend chastised for a royal mistake. While modern usage (as a scapegoat, which has its own interesting history) differs from the original meaning of the phrase, there should be some cultural history in the world it's used that makes this term appropriate to the user.
"Three strikes (and you're out)" is a phrase that has crept into the vernacular, but seems to have a pretty specific origin. My understanding of it is as a baseball term. I've often heard it used when disciplining children. More recently, it has been adopted by law enforcement in an effort to give offenders more than a second chance, but to still not be too lenient. I've spent enough time in other countries to know that baseball is not quite as well known in the rest of the world. "Strikes" are otherwise connected to violence and not general misbehavior. Honestly, there are a host of sports related sayings that really don't translate, with some more obvious than others.
There are many terms taken from history that use the name of a specific class or people as stereotypes. Patricians and Plebeians are social rankings from Ancient Rome. The Vandals were a Germanic tribe, as were the Visigoths (was it just my mom who referred to people with bad manners as such?). Some words are so deeply enmeshed in modern English that they are not generally recognized (vandal), but others remain clear cultural references which might not exist in the history of your world.
When you mention "The Prodigal Son,"everyone gets what you mean. Well... sort of. As I was reminded a while ago, "prodigal" doesn't mean "long absent," it means "wasteful." The second difficulty relates to this being a Biblical reference and more specifically a parable of Jesus'. While it is not an essential element of faith, it does connect to the idea of absolute forgiveness. There are no consequences following this wasteful son's return, except for the responsible brother's jealousy (for which the responsible brother is reprimanded). It's certainly possible for you to include a culture where forgiveness is a strong element, but it doesn't seem all that common in the genre.
A garter snake and a water moccasin are both named after articles of clothing. How each got their names, I couldn't really say, but if your people have never used garters, why use it to name your wildlife? I understand that mentioning a "small non-venomous snake" is not as immersive as a garter snake slipping through the tall grass, but find a different way to say it. With that one, I'm probably nit picking, as you might not bother to mention the use of garters in your setting (like you might not mention the use of other types of underwear, or even the presence of nits in the community). All I'm saying is that names like these have connections to history and culture. When you use them, you import certain elements along with them.
I'm certainly not a fanatic about eliminating parts of my vocabulary to maintain internal consistency. In my world without a moon, I wouldn't hesitate to call a madman a lunatic, but I wouldn't say a woman was getting her "moon blood." Every word has to come from somewhere and some words have been more thoroughly incorporated into English than others, but you need to be careful. It's an extremely fine line between immersing the audience with a detail and jarring them with something out of place. The gray area is enormous and varies from person to person. Most people don't care, but I might have difficulty with someone flagellating themselves in a world that has never known Flagellants.
Whipping Boy - http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/whipping-boy.html
Garter - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_%28stockings%29
Flagellant - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellant
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)