The Squall from the East

 This is my latest contribution to the Discussions section on the Academia site.

The Mongol invasion of Central Europe in 1241-1242 took the western leaders aback. Gruesome and spine-chilling, the victorious campaign of the steppe army sent shock waves across the continent. That was a powerful lesson that the Latin decision-makers would never forget. The campaign is assessed in terms of its strategic goals and viewed through the eyes of survivors. The author supplies several factors explaining the momentous withdrawal of the winners from the occupied territories.

You may read the article https://www.academia.edu/40613981/The_Squall_from_the_East

I also uploaded another extract where I attempt to cover the diplomatic correspondence between Great Khan Guyuk and Pope Innocent IV.  

The paper explores the attempt of the Apostolic See to keep an eye on the Mongols after their disastrous campaign against Central Europe. The Holy Father forwarded epistles to talk some sense into steppe predators and coax them into baptism. The Great Khans, in their turn, took advantage of bilateral relations to convince the Vicar of Christ and all European kings to submit to the Tartars. The dialogue between the blind and the deaf failed but managed to buy critical time. 

You may peruse it https://www.academia.edu/40815844/The_Suspension_Bridge_across_the_Abyss

I am waiting for an answer from the Academia Letters, a new journal where they publish short articles on multiple topics. I sent them a new piece, The Monster Galley, the story of a quinquereme, a five-oared galley designed by an amateur naval architect Vettor Fausto. This is part of my new project about medieval watercraft. I am still working on the section devoted to galleys. I have written a draft of the first two chapters and am developing the material focused on naval guns. The last chapter will center on merchant galleys. 

I hope that in the late summer- early fall I will upload a few chapters of my third project. 

The Enigma of the Antipodes

 About three weeks ago, I uploaded a new version of my article "The Enigma of the Antipodes" for Discussions on academia.edu. This is the concluding chapter of Unit II of my manuscript, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East". You may view this extract 

https://www.academia.edu/40346434/The_Enigma_of_the_Antipodes

as well as enjoy reading the rest of my 20 something papers that represent the three projects. 

The paper explores a strand of medieval geography concerning the Antipodes, the legendary fourth continent of the European Middle Ages. It plunges the readers into a scholastic debate, presenting opposite sides. The arguments become intense and controversial on the eve of the Age of Exploration. This is a famous mappamundi featuring the Sciapod, a fantastic one-legged creature living and breathing in the Antipodes. 

 

Burgo de Osma Mappamundi

Courtesy: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mappa_mundi_of_Burgo_de_Osma_Beatus#/media/File:Beato_de_Liebana_Burgo_de_Osma_1086.jpg 

The discussion is going to end very soon and I am up to upload the next extract of my second project, which is the starting chapter of Unit III: Unveiling the Alien. I will add some details about this paper after I complete the revision. 

I got in touch with a group of scientists who encourage people to deliver lectures on zoom. They are going to start a history club and I will give a lecture on Sumerian civilization next Monday at 18:30 Jerusalem time to a Russian-speaking audience. 

I continue to read papers on ancient Canaan in an attempt to identify the origin of the early Hebrews. One of them is Tommy Beyl's dissertation, "Phoenicia: Identity and Geopolitics in the Iron I-II A period: An examination of the textual, archaeological, and Biblical Evidence". 

 

Textual, Archaeological, and Biblical Evidence