Water, towns and people : Polish lands against a European background until the mid-16th century / Urszula Sowina ; translated by Justyna Woldańska.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sowina, Urszula, author.

Contributor:

Woldańska, Justyna, translator.

Series:

Polish studies, transdisciplinary perspectives ; Volume 17.

Polish studies - transdisciplinary perspectives ; Volume 17

Language:

English

Undetermined

Subjects (All):

Poland--History--16th century.

Poland.

Europe--History--16th century.

Europe.

Municipal water supply--Poland--Kraków--History--To 1500.

Municipal water supply.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (532 p.)

Place of Publication:

Frank am Main : Peter Lang, [2016]

Summary:

The book describes the functions of water in Polish towns from the late Middle Ages to the beginning of the Early-Modern Era against a wide European background. It presents the issue of water supply in the context of the town as a complex social and economic organism, taking into account social relations, administration and power as well as living and working conditions. Describing water supply devices, the author reconstructs the ways in which the techniques were transferred to the Polish lands. She analyses municipal court books and documents concerning towns of various sizes in the Polish lands from the 14th to the 16th century, with particular emphasis on Kraków. In addition, she also considers archaeological and iconographical sources. Her findings provide a new insight into the alimentary and hygienic uses of water, its importance for production and crafts, and its use as a source of energy, transport and communication. This is the first broad comparative presentation of the subject in Polish and European literature.

«Der Verfasserin ist es in höchst beachtlicher Weise gelungen, einen wichtigen Beitrag zur vergleichenden Stadtgeschichtsforschung vorzulegen.» (Ferdinand Opll, Wiener Geschichtsblätter 4/2016) «Die Verfasserin analysiert in vielfältiger Hinsicht die Bedeutung des Wassers für die Entwicklung von Städten und deren Gesellschaft. Sie erfasst die ökonomische, technische und soziale Dimension von Wasser und Wasserversorgung. Ob als Nahrungsmittel oder zur Reinigung und Hygiene, als Energieträger oder Produktionsmittel / Rohstoff, ob in der Funktion als Verkehrsweg, Gegenstand fiskalischer Überlegungen oder Objekt wissenschaftlicher Debatte, die Studie von Sowina bietet zahlreiche Ausgangspunkte.» (Raoul Zühlke, sehepunkte 17 (2017), Nr. 11 [15.11.2017]) Vollständige Rezension hier lesen «Thanks to its microscopic analysis and macroscopic perspective, Water, Towns, and People is highly recommended both to the Isis readership and to a more varied audience.» (Ana Duarte Rodrigues, ISIS Vol. 108, No. 4 2017)

Contents:

Cover; Table of Contents; Introduction; Part I. Opinions concerning the quality of water in the Middle Ages and at the beginning of the early modern period; Part II. The town and the river; II.1 Lowland towns and the river; II.2 Upland towns and the river; II.3 The town watercourse network: the functions of rivers, leats and moats in the spatial development of towns with particular reference to Kraków; II.4 Water in suburban gardens situated on rivers; Part III. Water for towns; III.1 Rainwater cisterns; III.2 Dug wells; III.2.1 Construction technique and function of wells

III.2.2 Wells within the town space: ownership and managementIII.2.2.1 Private wells; III.2.2.2 Between the private and the public space: wells belonging to neighbours' communities; III.2.2.3 Town wells; III.2.3 Dug wells as mikvehs; III.2.4 Well-builders; III.3 Water supply systems; III.3.1 The importance and functions of water supply systems; III.3.2 Technological and organizational models of the construction and functioning of water supply systems; III.3.3 The establishment of water supply systems in mediaeval European towns; III.3.4 The structure of water supply systems

Cartographic sourcesDictionaries; Literature; List of Illustrations; Geographical and Topographical Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed January 25, 2016).

ISBN:

9783653996739

3653996732

9783653025415

3653025419