西方学界关于中世纪英国工资史的研究

工资史是经济史研究中的一个重要组成部分,西方史学界对中世纪英国工资史的关注由来已久,大致经历了三个阶段:开端,主要是数据的统计与整理;拓展,经历了人口论和货币论关于工资涨幅影响因素的争论;深入,从经济—社会史角度研究工资史。理清楚这些线索,对我们进行中世纪英国工资水平的探讨无疑具有重要的意义。     

中世纪英格兰农奴制探微——以黑死病前的劳役限定和折算为视角

近年来,国内外学界研究中世纪英格兰的农奴制时多强调领主权力的有限性和佃农积累的可能性.但黑死病前英格兰农奴劳役的限定和折算表明:领主借此获得了多种好处,而大部分佃农在人身自由之外未必得到经济实惠.这提醒我们,既不能像一些西方学者那样,过分强调习惯对佃农的保护作用,也不能推测超经济强制的削弱一定能给佃农带来经济实惠.     

英国中世纪及近代早期的家产分配方案

在中世纪及近代早期的英国,家产继承主要依据普通法继承规则.在当时的生产关系下,这一规则主要是维护封建主阶层的整体利益,而较少顾及亲情.但人毕竟是有感情的,封建主在分配家产时常常综合考虑,以限嗣继承(Entail)、托管(Uses)、家产析分契约(Strict Settlement)等变通手段对普通法继承规则加以修正.这些变通手段反映了封建主在情感与理智之间摇摆不定的心态,地产继承制度也在这种摇摆中曲折发展.一部继承法变迁史表明,制度的变迁常常是人们心理冲突的外化形式.     

Razi on Reason and Political Authority: A Study in Medieval Persian Political Thought

The Philosopher of Rey, Mohammad-e Zakariya-ye Razi and his Ismaili adversaries, Abu Hatam-e Razi and Naser-e Khosrow, share a political understanding of religion according to which religion is a theologico-political system of domination. However, they are at odds over the political philosophy appraisal of religion qua a system of authority. The paper explicates the latter disagreement in part based on Razi's and his opponents' conflicting ideas about the nature of the faculty of Reason and its distribution among men. Consequently, the paper underlines a democratic implication of Razi's thesis on the makeup of the human intellect.     

The Changing Exploitation of Oysters (Ostrea edulis L. 1758) in Late Medieval and Early Modern England: A Case Study from Dudley Castle,West Midlands

ABSTRACT

Analysis of over 4000 complete left oyster valves from late medieval and post-medieval Dudley Castle reveals the changing role of this perishable luxury over a 700-year period. Throughout the occupation, it seems that oysters were used as ingredients rather than served raw in the shell. A greater reliance on oyster consumption is apparent in the later fourteenth century, perhaps reflecting a more diverse diet amongst the aristocracy in the wake of the Black Death. An increased preference for mussels and whelks is also attested in the Tudor and early modern periods, reflecting changing perceptions of these foods.

Overall, it is likely that natural beds were exploited throughout the time that oysters were being brought to Dudley Castle; however, the evidence demonstrates a shift from limited exploitation of natural inter-tidal sources in the eleventh century towards the dredging of sub-littoral beds in later periods, with some possible translocation of oyster stock. Changes in the shape, size and appearance of the oyster shells suggest the source locales from which the oysters derived changed through time. A notable shift occurred in the fourteenth century, which could reflect changes in supply brought about by altered tenancy at Dudley Castle and/or disruptions to trade brought about by the Black Death. Future biochemical analyses are recommended to provide greater clarity on the origin of those sources.     

中世纪前期英国的地方自治形态

早在中世纪前期,英国的地方统治就不同于封建时代中国式的“官治”,而呈现出一定的自治特性。这一自治特性分别表现为“官民合治”与“民官自治”。无论是哪一种情形,其自治形态都属于“国王监控的地方自治”。这种自治形态真实地反映了王权触角的向下延伸与地方集团对王权的制约,它对于英国地方自治的起步、宪政的发展、市民社会的孕育都产生了深远的影响,是英国成为“地方自治之家”与“宪政之乡”的重要原因所在。