Iglesia y Monarquía castellana bajo la misma cruz : Una visita pastoral a la diócesis de Segovia en 1446-1447

Este artículo analiza la situación de las parroquias segovianas de mediados del siglo XV a partir del documento de una visita pastoral donde se asienta el estado de conservación de las iglesias, la conducta de los curas párrocos y las opiniones campesinas vinculadas a esto. Se analiza también el rol que desempeña el visitador en tanto portador de la ideología emanada de la Iglesia como institución, al tiempo que imbuido de la lógica de la comunidad campesina de la que generalmente procede. El contexto general de esta visita pastoral es la reforma eclesiástica general del siglo XIV, que trató de revertir la crisis de la Iglesia

Estructura y dinámica del dominio de Santo Toribio de Liébana : Siglos XIII-XVI

En "Estructura y dinámica del dominio de Santo Toribio de Liébana (siglos XIII-XVI)" se trata de explicar las características diferenciales que presenta un dominio monástico del área septentrional de la Península Ibérica. En la primera parte, siglo XIII y principios del siglo XIV, se considera que la pobreza material que ostenta el cenobio, observable en el escaso volumen de la renta y en las sucesivas enajenaciones de bienes efectuadas por sectores jerarquizados locales, es el resultado de la dispar consolidación de las estructuras feudales en el espacio. Frente a áreas cercanas al emplazamiento del monasterio en donde el señor limita la movilidad campesina y extrae excedentes elevados y estables, existen otras, consideradas como la "periferia" del dominio, en donde la pervivencia del ejercicio del derecho de retorno limitaba seriamente la consolidación de la propiedad dominical señorial. En dichas áreas, la estabilización de los derechos de propiedad del señor sólo se concretó a partir de la conformación de estructuras coercitivas de poder a nivel local que anularon el ejercicio efectivo del retorno familiar. En la segunda parte, siglos XIV-XVI, se analizan las estrategias específicas que permitieron el incremento del volumen de la renta en el largo plazo. Frente a las tesis que sostienen una temprana parcelación de la reserva y una conmutación de las prestaciones de trabajo, se observa aquí, por el contrario, el aumento de su extensión en los siglos finales de la Edad Media. Al mismo tiempo se detecta un proceso de parcelación de las tenencias campesinas, impulsado por el señor, que propiciaba un incremento de los fuegos sobre los que recaían las exacciones. Ambos aspectos, apropiación señorializada del espacio y aumento de la tasa de la renta, fueron el resultado del ejercicio efectivo de la coacción política.

Pollen records from Elbe-Weser Dreieck

A long-running interdisciplinary research project on the development of landscape, prehistoric habitation and the history of vegetation within a "siedlungskammer" (limited habitation areal from neolithic to modern times has been carried out in the NW German lowlands, The siedlungskammer Flögeln is situated between the rivers Weser and EIbe and comprises about 23.5 km^2. It is an isolated pleistocene area surrounded by bogs, the soils consisting mainly of poor sands. In this siedlungskammer large-seale archaeological excavations and mappings have been performed, parallel to pedological, historical and above all pollen analytical investigations. The aim of the project is to record the individual phases in time, to delimit the respective settlement areas and to reconstruct the conditions of life and economy for each time period. A dense network of 10 pollen diagrams has been constructed. Several of them derive from the marginal area and from the centre of the large raised bog north of the siedlungskammer. These diagrams reflect the history of vegetation and habitation of a large region; due to the large pollen source area the habitation phases in the diagrams are poorly defined. Even in the utmost marginal diagram of this woodless bog, a great village with adjoining fields, situated only 100 m away from it, is registered with only low values of anthropogenic indicators. In contrast to this, the numerous pollen diagrams from kettle-hole bogs inside the siedlungskammer yield an exact picture of the habitation of the siedlungskammer and their individual parts. Early traces of habitation can be identified in the pollen diagram soon after the elm decline (around 5190 BP). Some time later in the middle neolithic period there follows a marked habitation phase, which starts between 4500 and 4400 BP and reflects the immigration of the trichterbecher culture. It corresponds to the landnam phase of Iversen in Denmark and begins with a sharp decline of the pollen curves of lime and oak, followed by the increase of anthropogenic indicators pointing to arable and pastural farming. High values of wild grasses and Calluna witness extensive forest grazing. This middle to late neolithic habitation is also registered archaeologically by settlements and numerous graves. After low human activity during Bronze Age and Older Iron Age times the archaeological and pollen analytical records of Roman and Migration periods is again very strong. This is followed by a gap in habitation during the 6th and 7th centuries and afterwards in the western part of the siedlungskammer from about 700 AD until the 14th century by the activity of the medieval village of Dalem, that was also excavated and whose fields were recorded by phosphate mapping to a size of 117 hectares. This medieval settlement phase is marked by much cereal cultivation (mainly rye). The dense network of pollen diagrams offers an opportunity to register the dispersion of the anthropogenic indicators from the areas of settlement to different distances and thus to obtain quantitative clues for the assessment of these anthropogenic indicators in pollen diagrams. In fig. 4 the reflection of the neolithic culture in the kettle-hole bogs and the large raised bog is shown in 3 phases: a) pre landnam, b) TRB-landnam, c) post landnam. Among arboreal pollen the reaction of Quercus is sharp close to the settlement but is not found at more distant profiles, whilst in contrast to this Tilia shows a significant decline even far away from the settlements. The record of most anthropogenic indicators outside the habitation area is very low, in particular cereal pollen is poorly dispersed; much more certain as an indicator for habitation (also for arable farming!) is Plantago lanceolata. A strong increase of wild grasses (partly Calluna aswell) some distance from the habitation areas indicates far reaching forest grazing. Fig. 5 illustrates the reflection of the anthropogenie indicators from the medieval village Dalem. In this instance the field area could be mapped exactly using phosphate investigations, and it has been possible to indicate the precise distances of the profile sites from the medieval fields. Here also, there is a clear correlation between decreasing anthropogenic indicators and increasing distance. In a kettle-hole bog (FLH) a distance of 3000 m away this marked settlement phase is not registered. The contrast between the pollen diagrams SWK and FLH (fig. 2 + 3, enclosure), illustrates the strong differences between diagrams from kettlehole bogs close to and distant from the settlements, for the neolithic as well as for the medieval period. On the basis of the examples presented here, implications concerning the interpretation of pollen diagrams with respect to habitation phases are discussed.

Sr/Ca ratios and oxygen isotopes from sclerosponges

We investigate aragonitic skeletons of the Caribbean sclerosponge Ceratoporella nicholsoni from Jamaica, 20 m below sea level (mbsl), and Pedro Bank, 125 mbsl. We use d18O and Sr/Ca ratios as temperature proxies to reconstruct the Caribbean mixed layer and thermocline temperature history since 1400 A.D. with a decadal time resolution. Our age models are based on U/Th dating and locating of the radiocarbon bomb spike. The modern temperature difference between the two sites is used to tentatively calibrate the C. nicholsoni Sr/Ca thermometer. The resulting calibration points to a temperature sensitivity of Sr/Ca in C. nicholsoni aragonite of about -0.1 mmol/mol/K. Our Sr/Ca records reveal a pronounced warming from the early 19th to the late 20th century, both at 20 and 125 mbsl. Two temperature minima in the shallow water record during the late 17th and early 19th century correspond to the Maunder and Dalton sunspot minima, respectively. Another major cooling occurred in the late 16th century and is not correlatable with a sunspot minimum. The temperature contrast between the two sites decreased from the 14th century to a minimum in the late 17th century and subsequently increased to modern values in the early 19th century. This is interpreted as a long-term deepening and subsequent shoaling of the Caribbean thermocline. The major trends of the Sr/Ca records are reproduced in both specimens but hardly reflected in the d18O records.

Una clave humanista de mediados del siglo XV para el Humanismo de la Corona de Aragón desde fines del siglo XIV: Ferran Valentí y el Prólogo a su traducción de las Paradoxa de Cicerón

In this article I study the Preface by Ferran Valentí to his own translation into Catalan of Cicero’s Paradoxa. Ferran Valentí was a humanist from Majorca, author in Catalan language who earned a Low Degree at the University of Bologna and who declared himself a devoted “son and pupil” of humanist Leonardo Bruni. Valentí made an analysis of the humanistic Canon in mid-15th century, including troubadours, Dante, Lullius, Latin literature classics and several Catalan authors, such as Bernat Metge. This proves that humanism was a true trend in the Crown of Aragon from the 2nd half of the 14th Century on.

Testimony, 1733

Young's testimony regarding an altercation he witnessed between Israel Chittenden, Benjamin House, John Hyland, and John Lindsey in or near the town of Scituate in September 1732. Heard before justice of the peace John Cushing in September 1732, and before John Winslow in Plymouth County Court of Assize, April 28, 1733. Signed by both.

Notes of proceedings and cases determined in the high court of errors and appeals, the court of chancery, and the orphans court of the state of Delaware, 1792-1832

Contains summaries of cases heard by the Delaware Supreme Court and the Delaware Appeals Court in the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Newcastle covering a variety of legal topics. Supposedly based on Wilson's Red Book.

Docket and fees book / 1791-1797

Records of cases heard in the Massachusetts Court of Common Pleas (Middlesex Co.) in Cambridge, Mass., and the New Hampshire Inferior Court of Common Pleas (Hillsborough Co.) in Amherst, N.H and matters brought before justices of the peace. Records identify the litigants, with some notes on fees and settlements; many of the cases concern debts. Justices of the peace include: Israel Atherton (Lancaster, Mass.); Samuel Dana (Amherst, N.H.); Joshua Longley (Shirley, Mass.); Nathaniel Paine (Worcester, Mass.); James Prescott (Westford, Mass.); Jeremiah Stiles (Keene, N.H.); William Swan (Groton, Mass.); Sampson Tuttle (Littleton, Mass.); and Henry Woods (Pepperell, Mass.).

Lawyer's case book containing notes of cases adjudged and determined in the courts of Delaware, 1793-1796

Lawyer's case book containing notes on cases before the Delaware Supreme Court and Delaware Court of Common Pleas. Contains information on the cases and judgements.

Capt. Weeks his answers to interogatorys on oath ... ca. 1738

Weeks (of Greenland, N.H.) was accused of concealing and embezzling items from his late son's estate. Document is signed: William Parker reg.

[ Warrant for the arrest of Samuel Gray for debt], 1769

A warrant for the arrest and sale of all assets of Gray who was found to owe another merchant Alexander Hill in a recent trial. Also includes appraisal of property by Fairfield and Salter and statement by Sheriff Cudworth.

Grant, 1778, November 18

Grant of 38 acres of land in Culpeper County, Virginia, by Thomas, lord Fairfax, baron Cameron, "proprietor of the northern neck of Virginia," to Philip Pendleton. Issued in Frederick County, Virginia.

[ Bond of James Vansant and Richard Vanhorne], 1753

Bond signed by William Buckley, justice of the peace for Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The examination of John Owen late of New Jersey brought before me Jeremiah Langhorne ..., 1725

Title from first line of text.