Ban Chao Drummers

Bam Chao statue in Kashgar
Source: wikimedia commons

Today after longer break about drummers that bring the first victory for famous Chinese general Ban Chao.

"Ban Chao (32-102 CE) (...) was an important general of the early Later Han period (25-220 CE). He was a son of Ban Biao and a younger brother of Ban Gu,  both historians that compiled the official dynastic history of the Former Han period (206 BCE-8 CE), the Hanshu. Their family came from Anling (near modern Xianyang, Shaanxi) and moved to the capital Luoyang (...), where they lived as scribes for various state institutions. Ban Chao was a senior scribe of the magistrate of Lantai  but he had to leave this post because of some minor offense he committed." Source: ChinaKnowledge.de

9th century BC

Dido purchases Land for the Foundation of Carthage
Source: wikimedia commons

In IX century BC important changes in civilization had happened. In Europe, Etruscan Civilization was born in Italy. In Africa, Carthage was founded by Dido. United under Aramu Urartu rise in power and frightened mighty kingdom of Assyria. In America, Olmecs start building pyramids. Let's take a closer look region by region:

Asia:

• China ruled by Zhou dynasty with no luck to significant rulers - however worth mention is Gonghe Regency, a rare example of harmonized rule by two dukes - Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao. Since Gonghe Regency (841 BC) start also consecutive annual dating of Chinese history (based on Sima Quian "Record of Grand Historian") 
• Assyria - Shalmaneser II had an important role in extending of Assyrian empire by the campaign against Israel (842 BC), Tibareni in Cappadocia (836 BC). He didn't succeed to conquer Damascus - which was finally done by his grandson Adad-nirari III. In parallel new enemy rising - Urartu.

Henri Grace a Dieu

Henry Grace à Dieu by Anonymous
Source: wikimedia commons

13th June 1514, Woolwich Dockyards, London. King Henry VIII flagship, Henri Grace a Dieu, was launched and became the most advanced, biggest (50m long) and heavily armed (43 cannons) warship carrack in the world at that time. "Great Harry" (as nicknamed) was first ship build in Woolwich Dockyard. First Royal dockyards were built at Portsmouth during Henry VII reign with the main purpose to build trade ships. Henry VIII had different priorities - threats from France and Spain make it essential to building warships. Woolwich and Deptford are located close to London, at Thames river.

"(...) there was a threat of war from England's Catholic neighbours, France and Spain. Portsmouth was a long way from the Armouries in the Tower of London, where all ships were equipped with cannon and artillery. To make the building of warships more convenient, Henry decided to build two dockyards on the Thames in 1513. These would be close to London where it was easier to get arms, supplies for building the ships and a ready labour force. Henry chose Woolwich and Deptford as his sites as they were also conveniently near his Palace at Greenwich, which meant that he could watch the shipbuilding in progress." Source: The Royal Dockyards of Deptford and Woolwich 

Wheellock pistol and new era of assasination

Assassination by pistol (not related to Robert Packington)
Source: publicdomainreview.org

It was a misty morning on November 13th, 1536. Robert Packington passing streets in Tudor era London to attend  Mass in Mercers Chapel. Robert was a prominent merchant, member of parliament, Thomas Cromwell associate who carried messages between him and evangelical activist in Europe.

"Packington's route took him past the Great Conduit, a square building in the middle of Cheapside containing the fountain that provided the nearby houses with their water supply. As he crossed the thoroughfare, only a few metres from his destination, a single shot rang out and he fell dead upon the instant." Source: The hunt for the Tudor hitman by Derek Wilson, BBC History Magazine 6/2013

The Sicilian Vespers

Peter III (second from left in upper boat) invading Sicily
Source: wikimedia commons

King Peter III of Aragon coronation as Peter I was result of Sicilian uprise against French despot Charles of Anjou. French rules in Sicily were very unpopular so when during vespers of Easter Monday, March 30th, 1282 at the Church of the Holy Spirit group of French soldiers join Italian crowd during local wedding. His misbehave cause anger eruption in local people. Angry crowd kill him and other soldiers. This bloody event start uprising that end with numerous killed French soldiers and Sicilian inhabitants.
This event gave Peter opportunity to invade Sicily to claim his rights to throne, which happened on February 2nd, 1283
Peter's wife Constance, heir of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. That's make additional threads for papacy already frightened by powers of German emperors. To counterweight it pope Martin IV support French king and therefore also Charles as Sicily ruler. However Martin don't know that Peter had built his fleet with strong financial support from East Roman Emperor Michael Paleologos. Martin dream was to unite west and east church but wasn't aware about plans of his ally Charles who plan to used fleet build using pope money to conquer Constantinople although officially build for next Crusade against Islam.

Mysterious Voynich manuscript decoded?

Page from Voynich Manuscript
Source: wikimedia commons

Last week I spot in Amazon webshop  BBC Focus Magazine available for subscription and start trial period. Inside first issue I've found interesting article about latest attempt to decode mysterious Voynich manuscript.
The name of this manuscript comes from name of a Polish revolutionary, later British antiquarian and bibliophile Wilfrid M. Voynich. He found and bought this book on 1912 at the Villa Mondragone in Italy.

"Its 240 parchment pages are filled with an intricate script and page after page of colored illustrations showing plants, patterns of stars and groupings of squat, naked nymphs. Since its purchase in Italy in 1912 by Polish-American book collector Wilfred Voynich, the book has been an enigma." Source: The mystery of the Voynich Manuscript, BBC Focus Magazine 5/2014

Wilfrid Voynich claim that book must be Roger Bacon work which than have series of notable owner through ages:

Shi Huangdi search for immortality

Mount Penglai - Mount of Immortals
Source: wikimedia commons

Immortality obsessed many powerful rulers - China first emperor Shi Huangdi wasn't here exception. When he succeed in uniting Chine for first time in history, he started to be obsessed with immortality. Surviving numerous assassination attempts he was now perfectly guarded but still aware that he is mortal. According to legend on Mount Peglai located on:

"(...) a mountainous archipelago in the Yellow Sea where immortality, or a means of obtaining it, was reputed commonplace." Source: Keay, J. China: A History, Kindle edition, p. 103

Shi Huangdi visit the Zhifu Island on Bohai Sea three times in order to find Elixir of Life. When failed he send Taoist Xu Fu with several hundreds boys and girls in search of paradise but they never returned - see below description from John Keay book:

Saint Brendan and Garden of Edens

Saint Brendan and the whale
from a 15th-century manuscript
Source: wikimedia commons

Quest for Gardens of Eden had been always temptation  for adventurers. One of the earliest was Saint Brendan whose feast day was celebrated last Friday (May 16th). Saint Brendan nick name is "the Navigator" as per his legendary travels described in "Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis" ("Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot"). Saint Brendan was born in Tralee in south-west corner of Ireland around 484 AD. He was baptised by Saint Erc and later ordained as priest in 512 AD. Since then he sailed around Islands surrounding Ireland and founding monasteries. The best known was Clonfert in Galeway. This voyages temptate him to risk more far away travel - to search for Garden of Eden:

"Saint Brendan travel to an Island, that he described as being Garden of Eden. He claimed that Garden Of Eden was an mountain that was hidden behind some clouds." Source: Decoding The Past Mysteries Of The Garden Of Eden, Youtube 

Golden cows

Golden cows statues erected outside an office block
in Beijing in preparation for
the Chinese Spring Festival 2009Source: DailyMail

I would like to start this week post with short explanation why I switch so unexpectedly from Crusades/European topic to Ancient China. Explanation is that I decided to go for this year holiday to China so I want to be also better prepared. For this I start reading John Keay "China: A History".
Last week my attention was dragged about story of great-great-great-grandfather of famous first China Emperor Shi Huangdi - king Huiwen of Qin. His attention was dragged by reach, fertile land of silk and money

10th century BC

World in 1 000 BC
Source: wikimedia commons

My last week post was about China rulers in X century BC. I've realized that it will be interesting to find out what happened this times in other civilization. I based on Wikipedia article and make additional investigation on interesting facts and figures. Below I summarize my findings.

Starting in Asia:
Japan - Late Jōmon culture entered in final period (1 000 - 300 BC) 
India - in X century BC there were four Iron Age kingdoms in India—Panchala, Kuru , Kosala, Videha.
Sri Lanka - first capital of the Kingdom of Rajarata - Anuradhapura - was established

Rare bird and mythical quest in Chinese Zhou dynasty

King Zhao of Zhou
Source: wikimedia commons

In the time of third Chinese dynasty Zhou - fourth king Zhao rules in the second part of X century BC. He was rather lazy - prefer pleasure than politics. In center of his interest were rather rare plants and animals than ruling country. This passion pushed him to attack rival Kingdom of Chu as he got information about rare bird observed on Chu territory. After crossing the Han River, King Zhao realized that this was a trick. Lack of preparation and weak commanding skills lead to tragic results as describe in John Keay book:

Timber and Fire - How Jerusalem was captured by Crusaders

Ercole de Roberti Destruction of Jerusalem
Source: wikimedia commons

Mid-June 1099 - Genoese fleet anchored at Jaffa, at this time just small natural harbour, closest to Jerusalem. They had come primary to explore new avenues for commerce. For Baldwin, crusaders leader in this time, they provide needed naval power. He offered them generous term - they can create independent trading enclave in any settlement or city taken by Crusaders with sailors help. In addition experienced and  skilled Genoese craftsman strengthen engineering skills of Crusaders which combined with local Christian knowledge about timber sources allow Crusaders to start building siege machinery. Muslim used normal tactic to fight this timber siege towers - fire but sometimes with unexpected role change:

Medieval Britain post

XVth century scribe at work (modern reconstruction)
Source: wikimedia commons

How letters were sent in 15th century on British Isles describe Deborah Thorpe in September 2013 BBC History Magazine. 

Not surprisingly the reason of sending letters in those times wasn't much different than today. People sending the letter in every topic starting from business related to love affairs. However, there were many challenges in process of getting a letter from sender to recipients. First one was to find the right person suitable to write the letter as not everyone was capable to do this. 

Antioch 1098 AD - Bohemond and Firuz

Antioch fortifications
Source: wikimedia commons

Early autumn 1097 - Crusaders army enter northern Syria and arriving at one of the great cities of the Orient, the fortified metropolis of Antioch. Yaghi-Siyan, Seljuk governor of Antioch well informed by his spies try to protect his city be expelling Christians from city:

"Yagi-Siyan, a man famous for his big hairy ears and thick, grey beard did his outmost to keep the enemy out [of Antioch]. But he knew any of the local Christians may be persuaded to let the Franks [Crusaders] in. When he heard about approach of the Franks he was not sure how the Christian people of the city would react. So he send all the Muslim outside the city walls to dig trenches, and the next day, he send the Christian by themselves to do the same task. When they are ready to return home at the end of the day, he refused to let them in" Source: THE CRUSADES: CRESCENT & THE CROSS, History Channel

How wool influence British economy

Women sheering sheep for wool fleece.
Source: wikimedia commons

10 million wool fleeces yearly were exported from England in beginning of 14th century ... that's a lot - and make England the world biggest wool producer in those time. But is not only quantity but also quality:

English farmers had developed breeds of sheep that produced fleeces of varying weight and quality, some of which were among the best in Europe. Source: History's big numbers, interviews by Charlotte Hodgman, BBC History Magazine 2/2014

Increasing demands from continental trade center  - Ypres, Ghent, Bruges (all nowadays in Belgium) - requires also good organisation.  Key role plays here monasteries which not only kept theirs own herds but also contracted flocks from peasants leaving in surrounding villages. To make it happen new occupancy like woolman or woolmongers where created. Especially in this area specialized are Cisterian monasteries  - it was integral to the order economy - sheep not only provided wool, which could be used to make clothing and blankets for the community, or else sold, but were important for the manufacture of butter and cheese. 

Holy Lance

Bishop Ademar of Le Puy holding Holy Lance
in St. Peter Church, Antioch
Source: wikimedia commons

June 15th,1098 - Peter Bartholomew, French peasant crusader discover Holy Lance in besieged by Muslim city of Antioch, in Church of St. Peter. At least he claimed it but for sure gave faith to Crusaders Knights that they can go outside city walls and defeat Muslim army.

Holy Lance was acclaimed as spear that pierced Jesus side on the cross. It was believed that lance were kept in Jerusalem, however after Romans destroyed city was lost.

The spiritual leader of crusaders bishop Le Puy was skeptical (as one Holy Lance was already kept in Hagia Sophia) but as army morale was raised he hide his hesitation. When he died couple days later he was buried in the very the same place where Holy Lance  had been found.

Chultuns - How ancient Maya collect water during rain season

El Castillo (pyramid of Kukulcán) in Chichén Itzá
Source: wikimedia commons

Yucatan peninsula, nowadays Mexico, is fertile land however disadvantaged by a shortage of running water (rivers) or lakes.

"Soil here is fuel, natural resources abundant. It's look like ideal place for human habitation. Except for one thing ... the Puuc region has no water sources ... no rivers, lake, streams, creeks." Source: Quest for the Lost Maya. PBS/National Geographic documentary

How ancient Maya overcome it? Well, they need to find a way to collect rainwater during 6 months of wet season. They use natural limestone bedrock to dug flat bottle shape cistern called chultun. This name is a combination of two Maya language words - chulub (rainwater) and tun (stone)[2]

Laser scan model of Kiuic chultun.
Source: Quest for the Lost Maya. 
PBS/National Geographic documentary

The first description of chultuns was done in XVI century by bishop Diego de Landa in his book Relación de las cosas de Yucatán[2]. These water chambers were carved from soft limestone, then covered inside by limestone stucco to keep water in the side[3]. The required capacity of chultuns was investigated in Quest of Lost Maya documentary:

[In Kiuic] the Maya engineering the patio rooftops and plazas to capture every last drop of rain water. Than drain to eight chultuns (...). The entire hilltop function as giant rain barrel. So how many people would that ingenious water tank support. Chultuns have average capacity of about 10 000 gallons. They calculate that typical family of six consumes 27 gallons a day. So single chultuns could have support seven families through 3 rainless months. 
Source: Quest for the Lost Maya. PBS/National Geographic documentary

Chultuns when became unused (e.g. water found a way outside) they are used also as food storage or garbage collector. Sometimes even burial place[4].

Maya chultuns construction was inspired by natural cenotes, natural pits that exists also on Yucatan peninsula.

Primary sources:
[1] Quest for the Lost Maya. PBS/National Geographic documentary
[2] Chultun Ancient Maya Storage Systems - and perhaps more
[3] Chultun article on islc.net.
[4] The Chaa Creek Chultun is another indication of Maya existence at Chaa Creek Nature Reserve

Secondary sources:
[5] Kaxil Kiuic: Helen Moyers Biocultural reserve 

Videos:
[6] Quest for the Lost Maya. PBS/National Geographic documentary

West come to East

Western dukes of First Crusade,
 from left Godfrey de Bouillon,
Bohemond I of Tarent, 
Raymond IV de Toulouse,
Tancred of Hauteville
Source: wikimedia commons

1097 AD - 2 years after the famous sermon was given by Pope Urban II in Council of Clermont call for Crusades - western knights arrive at Constantinople gates. Between them there four noble dukes: 

• Godfrey de Bouillon - second son of the count of Boulogne, with blood lineage back to Charlemagne. Born around 1060 AD in Boulogne-sur-Mer . Describe by medieval chronicler William of Tyre as taller than 'the average man ... strong beyond compare, with solidly built limbs and stalwart chest, [with] pleasing features  [and] beard and hair of medium blond'.
• Bohemond of Tarent, son of famous Robert Guiscard (the Astute), Duke of Apulia and Calabria
• Raymond IV of Toulouse - count of Toulouse, duke of Narbonne and margrave of Narbonne.
• Tancred of Hauteville, grandson of Robert Guiscard so also the nephew of Bohemond.

About this blog.

I am generally interested in history, especially in medieval and renaissance periods. I like reading books, articles and internet posts related to these areas and would like to share on my blog some facts that I found interesting.

I would like to enhance found information using other sources and encourage blog visitors for further exploration. I do believe that knowing history helping us to understand the present time.

English is not my mother tongue so excuse me for any grammar mistakes - correction advice is however highly welcome - will help me improve my English.

My plan is to publish at least one post every Sunday - will see how it goes ...