By placing medieval sealing practices in a global and comparative perspective, the essays gathered in this volume challenge the traditional understanding of seals as tools of closure and validation in use since the dawn of civilization. Far from being a universal technique, sealing is revealed as a flexible idiom, selectively deployed to mediate entangled identities: the introduction of Buddhism in early medieval China; the Islamization of Sasanian and Byzantine cultures; the balancing of Christian orthodoxy against classical and Muslim science; the development of civic consciousness in Byzantium; the efforts of tradesmen to brand merchandise for export; and the advancement of diplomacy from northern Europe to Indonesia. This examination of documentary seals, archaeologically recovered seal dies, and commercial and conceptual seals from cultures across the medieval world shows how skillful manipulation of their iconography, inscriptions, technology, and metaphorical meanings disseminated information, negotiated influences, asserted hegemony, and forged connections.
Publikation durchsuchen
Bibliographische Angaben
Auflage
1/2019
Copyrightjahr
2019
ISBN-Print
978-1-64189-256-8
ISBN-Online
978-1-64189-257-5
Verlag
Arc Humanities Press, Yorkshire
Reihe
The Medieval Globe Books
Sprache
Englisch
Seiten
258
Produkttyp
Sammelband
Inhaltsverzeichnis
KapitelSeiten
Contents Kein Zugriff
List of Illustrations Kein Zugriff
Acknowledgements Kein Zugriff
Cultural Transactions: An Introduction to Medieval Seals from a Global Perspective Kein Zugriff Seiten 1 - 14
Autor:innen:
Seals as Conceptual and Ritual Tools in Chinese Buddhism, ca. 600–1000 CE Kein Zugriff Seiten 15 - 48
Autor:innen:
Imprinting Powers: The Astrological Seal and Its Doctrinal Meanings in the Latin West Kein Zugriff Seiten 49 - 72
Autor:innen:
A Medieval Solution to an Early Modern Problem? Kein Zugriff Seiten 73 - 98
Autor:innen:
Expressing New Rule: Seals from Early Islamic Egypt and Syria, 600–800 CE Kein Zugriff Seiten 99 - 148
Autor:innen:
The Formulation of Urban Identity on Byzantine Seals Kein Zugriff Seiten 149 - 166
Autor:innen:
The Cloth Seal: A Mark of Quality, Identification, or Taxation? Kein Zugriff Seiten 167 - 192
Autor:innen:
Archaeology and Sigillography in Northern Europe Kein Zugriff Seiten 193 - 212
Autor:innen:
Medieval Treaties and the Diplomatic Aesthetic Kein Zugriff Seiten 213 - 238
