Yes the Black Death (1347-1351) was another key factor in improving the lives of peasants for the next 100 yrs by upending Malthusian socioeconomic dynamics. Wages doubled or tripled overnight, peasants were no longer tied to a local Lord of the manor because they just went to where wages were higher and no one could do anything about it. Basically, they no longer existed at subsistence level (the Malthusian trap whereby pre-industrial agrarian societies settle economically at subsistence level). In the UK ‘sumptuary’ laws were introduced which banned peasants from buying luxury goods. However, market forces won out. If you were a tailor and some guy came off the street and was prepared to pay good money for a nice coat, what would you do? Sell him a coat. The coats could be turned inside out so their true quality or upmarket style was hidden. The same things happened with food, shoes etc. Eventually by the 1430s things returned to the pre Black Death ways, but the printing press arrived and that heralded another major societal shift as knowledge became more accessible - it also facilitated the rapid rise of Protestantism.
I really recommend this book if you can get it:-
I really recommend this book if you can get it:-
Indeed. When you learn another language you can't help getting acquainted with another culture.
Your mind expands, your pettiness contracts.
But I have a question: would you be insulted if someone pointed out you are ignorant of something or in some field?
Like, I am totally ignorant in the field of rocket fuel composition and parameters.
Jan
Do you have any sprogs?😳@Bonsai
A great friend's son has been awarded a Master degree through Japanese in business studies here in the UK. He too lived in Japan for some four or five years. But he has also taken on a dual culture lifestyle. I have seen videos of him in full Japanese attire splitting bamboo poles at great speed using the full ceremonial of that discipline.
On the other hand my Wife's brother was gifted at learning languages and can speak some nine tongues to an advanced commercial level.
Unfortunately I never had the gift of languages. My first school term's effort of learning French drew the term-end report comment "Below any known standard".kids?
My son went to Japan in 2010, he learnt to read Kanjis before he could speak the language, now he's fluent. Still there with 2 grandchildren. Still there.
My youngest daughter, born in Essex, grew up in Wales. Top of the year at school in Welsh, ironically. She has friends in Chechnya, she taught herself Russian.
Me, I'm not bad at French, Italian and Spanish.
Mrs tobydog often gets taken as being French en route to my Italian family, must be her Huguenot heritage.
So much for being Essex.
All part of me natural charm🤣
Hi Jan, I don’t know why you are asking but no. I am ignorant in many/most/all (multiple choice) areas.
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My question is related to proper use of language, or at least interpretation.
It may be totally unrelated.
But I see for instance that if you say 'you are wrong in this because ...' an answer like 'why do you insult me'?
That's also improper use for me, but could be ignorance about meaning of words ;-).
Jan
It may be totally unrelated.
But I see for instance that if you say 'you are wrong in this because ...' an answer like 'why do you insult me'?
That's also improper use for me, but could be ignorance about meaning of words ;-).
Jan
That is really an aglosaxon habit: feeling offended by certain words or the way of expression. So words need to be replaced or changed. Till the new words are also condemned.
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"Ignition!" by John D Clark can help that. It goes into chemistry that is way over my head but the overall message is that successful rocket fuels are unstable, corrosive, or poisonous. Usually all three at once. Fascinating stuff, and you wonder that any of the rocket pioneers survived.
Didn't the seed drill, as well as other mechanisation of farming, plus the lack of wood for heating, encouraging mining that required pumps to drain them also help?
It's possible that the industrial revolution could have happened in China, but some Emperor dude didn't want change.
You really need a lot of things to come together, in the right place.
It's possible that the industrial revolution could have happened in China, but some Emperor dude didn't want change.
You really need a lot of things to come together, in the right place.
You jest? A vocabulary of 40 words, I think you may be very slightly out there. My 16 month old granddaughter's vocabulary exceeds that.
What's wrong with owning a car manual? Is owning a car manual some kind of insult or sign of lack of intelligence? By the way, I'm the only person I know that owns any car manuals, they come in handy for maintenance and repairs. I even own a few motorcycle manuals. The favourite is for my Italian moto gucci Le Mans due.
Not many people understand or want to understand how to repair anything now. Is that the same in the Netherlands?
A survey done by a Sunday paper, was it owned by a certain Mr Murdoch? Please don't believe every piece of gossip you read in the Sunday rags.
The last novel that I read was Anna Karenina by some (r)ussian author. Linda, my far better half reads 4 or 5 books a month. I must read Anna Karenina again.
Bitter, no, Enmity may be more appropriate.
fik essex man😍
Does the question mark give you a clue?
Have you heard about the Black Death? It had an impact on society, still to this day.
This seems a european phenomenon and maybe even wider. Just like less and less craftsmen.
Repair cafes have started but in general consumer stuff (like domestic appliances) of today is not exactly made to be repaired 🙂
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Interestingly, laptop computers and the like are actually becoming easier to repair due to the right to repair 'movement' outing the manufacturers. They are starting to make it easier to access components like fans and batteries that are found to need attention within the lifespan of the machine.
Very surprisingly, Microsoft in the Surface Pro range have even put QR codes on specific parts of the insides which link to the relevant section of a service manual on their website, and the manuals are available from the day of release of a new device.
Very surprisingly, Microsoft in the Surface Pro range have even put QR codes on specific parts of the insides which link to the relevant section of a service manual on their website, and the manuals are available from the day of release of a new device.
It's not Scotch - that is a drink. I can well understand the attitude of those Celtic immigrants, if you bothered to read some of the history of Ireland and Scotland/Alba you would too.