La noblesse à table

La noblesse à table
Author: Paul Janssens
Publisher: ASP / VUBPRESS / UPA
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2008
Genre: Belgium
ISBN: 9054874694

Presenting a rare glimpse into the dining rooms of Belgian nobility from the Middle Ages to modern times, specialists in the field discuss gastronomy and festive culture in a historical and sociological context. This stunning work provides insights into both the culinary proclivities and table manors of these epic gourmands, answering such questions as What was the daily menu of the dukes of Burgundy? What was behind the sudden enthusiasm for saltwater fish in the 17th century? and Why were exotic desserts so popular in the 19th century? A valuable addition to the historical study of Belgian Noblemen and the ruling elite, this bilingual collection--presented in both English and French--creates a wonderfully rich portrait of the past, from the dukes of Burgundy to Belgian royalty.

Warfare in Medieval Brabant, 1356-1406

Warfare in Medieval Brabant, 1356-1406
Author: Sergio Boffa
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
Total Pages: 313
Release: 2004
Genre: History
ISBN: 1843830612

An account of the causes, combatants and course of events in the successive conflicts which troubled the duchy for half a century. The medieval duchy of Brabant was one of the most powerful principalities of the Low Countries. During the second half of the fourteenth century, it underwent a particularly dramatic period in its history: the House of Leuven wason the point of disappearance, the duchy was coveted by Philip the Bold of Burgundy, who was already dreaming of extending the "Burgundian Empire" and, by a network of alliances, Brabant was drawn into the Hundred Years' War. Theauthor reviews the successive conflicts which troubled the duchy between 1356 and 1406; the different authorities which influenced the course of military operations (the duchess and the duke, their officers, and the Estates of Brabant); describes the combatants, in particular the nobility and the urban militias; considers the practical aspects of warfare; and analyses the military obligations and contracts which bound the men at arms to the duke. SERGIO BOFFA is currently researching in the department of Maps and Plans, Bibliotheque Royale de Belgique, Brussels.

Birds in Archaeology

Birds in Archaeology
Author: W Prummel
Publisher: Barkhuis
Total Pages: 285
Release: 2010
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9077922776

This volume comprises the papers presented at the 6th Meeting of the ICAZ Bird Working Group, held in August 2008 in Groningen, the Netherlands. The subjects of the contributions range from New Zealand, South America and the Near East to Europe and vary in time from the Pleistocene up to the late 19th century. Themes discussed are the palaeozoogeography of birds, the role of birds in subsistence, ritual and symbolism, bird hunting techniques and histological studies of bird bones. The geographical, temporal and thematic variation underlines the importance of ornito-archaeozoology for all aspects of archaeology.