| |
|
|
Agricultural Heritage Museum,....
 |
|
| Time : |
7 : 41 |
|
|
Visit to the Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage in Stirling, Ontario.
Check www.agmuseum.ca. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
4 : 9 |
|
|
A tribute to Ernie and Peggy Reid who were cheesemakers in the Township of Rawdon in Hastings County until 1967. Hastings County is well known for its Cheddar Cheese. Visit the Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage in Stirling and find out more at www.agmuseum.ca |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
8 : 7 |
|
|
Manali, (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft) in the Beas River valley, is an important hill station in the Himalayan mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is administratively a part of the Kullu District. The population is approx. 30,000. The small town was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over the Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin. Manali and its surrounding areas are of great significance to the Indian culture and heritage as it was the home and abode of the Saptarshi or seven sages. The ancient cave temple, Hidimba Devi Temple, is not far from town.
In ancient times, the valley was sparsely populated by nomadic hunters known as "rakshas". The next arrivals were the shepherds who arrived from the Kangra valley and settled to take up agriculture. Some of the earliest inhabitants of the region are the 'naur' or 'nar' which is a caste unique to the Kullu valley. Only a few naur families are known to exist now. A naur family in the village Soyal near Haripur on the west bank of Manali was famous for the vast land they owned and their practice of having 'rakshas' as their labourers.
The British were responsible for introducing apples and trout which were not native to Manali. It is said that when apple trees were first planted the fruits were so plentiful that often branches, unable to bear the weight would collapse. To this day apple along with plum and pear remains the best source of income for the majority of its inhabitants.
Tourism in Manali received a real boost after the rise of militancy in Kashmir in the late 1980s. This once quiet village was transformed into a bustling town with hundreds of hotels and restaurants.
Manali is also the name of an old district of Armenia c. 400-800
Many films have been shot in Manali including Henna, Laal Dupatta Malmal Ka, Krrish etc. In the month of May 2007 parts of the film Jab We Met were shot in Manali starring Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
2 : 46 |
|
|
Join us in celebrating our agricultural heritage!Food, Fun and Farmer's Market Ruskin Tomato Queen,Antique Tractor Show,Roamin' Oldies Classic Car Show, Bluegrass and Country Music, Heritage Center, Historical Exhibits, Plant Show and Sale, Gardening Seminars and Workshops, Fried Green Tomatoes, Kid's Korner- Rides and Games,Crafts, Products and Prizes, Watershed Tour, Butterfly tent, with release at end of Festival, Free Sliced Tomatoes! |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
0 : 29 |
|
|
The first weekend in May. Join us in celebrating our agricultural heritage!Food, Fun and Farmer's Market Ruskin Tomato Queen,Antique Tractor Show,Roamin' Oldies Classic Car Show, Bluegrass and Country Music, Heritage Center, Historical Exhibits, Plant Show and Sale, Gardening Seminars and Workshops, Fried Green Tomatoes, Kid's Korner- Rides and Games,Crafts, Products and Prizes, Watershed Tour, Butterfly tent, with release at end of Festival, Free Sliced Tomatoes! |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
7 : 47 |
|
|
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com
Title: 1001 Inventions Conference Chapter One, Part 3/4
First Speaker: Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekmeleddin_Ihsanoglu
Co-ordinator: Professor Salim Al-Hassani
Date: March 8th 2006
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Subject: The Significance of Muslim Heritage to Humanity
Aim: The 1001 Inventions project strongly emphasizes how Muslims, working harmoniously alongside people of different faiths and races across Europe, Asia and Africa, were able to contribute extensively in many fields including science and medicine.
Description: In the West, the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages is usually seen as an interlude between two great flowering of civilisations, in which little advancement of knowledge took place. However, in this period Islamic scholars across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia were very busy preserving and building on the knowledge of the ancient world. From the use of the catgut in internal surgery to the first flight with a man-made device, the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation inspired numerous scientific and technological advancements which still impact on our world today. The 1001inventions conferences will explore some of these development and achievements, across fields as diverse as maths and agriculture, cartography and medicine...
Other Speakers: Prof. Charles Burnett, Dr Zohor Idrisi, Dr. John Healey, Dr. Okasha El-Daly, Prof. Nil Sari Akdeniz, Dr. Emilie Savage-Smith, Prof. Mohamed El-Gomati, Dr anne-Maria Brennan, Dr. Oliver Kahl, Dr. S. Kauser,Professor Salim Al-Hassani, Prof.Dr. Muhammad Abattouy, Dr Subhi Azzawi, Prof. Gunhan Danisman
© Gem ibn ya'tube :)
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
7 : 28 |
|
|
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com
Title: 1001 Inventions Conference Chapter One, Part 4/4
First Speaker: Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekmeleddin_Ihsanoglu
Co-ordinator: Professor Salim Al-Hassani
Date: March 8th 2006
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Subject: The Significance of Muslim Heritage to Humanity
Aim: The 1001 Inventions project strongly emphasizes how Muslims, working harmoniously alongside people of different faiths and races across Europe, Asia and Africa, were able to contribute extensively in many fields including science and medicine.
Description: In the West, the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages is usually seen as an interlude between two great flowering of civilisations, in which little advancement of knowledge took place. However, in this period Islamic scholars across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia were very busy preserving and building on the knowledge of the ancient world. From the use of the catgut in internal surgery to the first flight with a man-made device, the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation inspired numerous scientific and technological advancements which still impact on our world today. The 1001inventions conferences will explore some of these development and achievements, across fields as diverse as maths and agriculture, cartography and medicine...
Other Speakers: Prof. Charles Burnett, Dr Zohor Idrisi, Dr. John Healey, Dr. Okasha El-Daly, Prof. Nil Sari Akdeniz, Dr. Emilie Savage-Smith, Prof. Mohamed El-Gomati, Dr anne-Maria Brennan, Dr. Oliver Kahl, Dr. S. Kauser,Professor Salim Al-Hassani, Prof.Dr. Muhammad Abattouy, Dr Subhi Azzawi, Prof. Gunhan Danisman
© Gem ibn ya'tube :)
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
1 : 47 |
|
|
Podcast created to showcase the museums collection of agricultural artefacts from around the UK |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
1 : 19 |
|
|
GTR-DVD-1235 - The founding and name of the city of Vaasa dates back to Swedish King, Karl The Ninth, even though today the city is part of Finland.
The city has always been an important centre of education. Indeed, Vaasa was the first city in Finland to possess a library.
The main goal of the Bragegården Open Air Museum was to create and preserve a typical East Bothnian farming community. It contains a total of twenty three buildings some of which are not associated with agriculture as fishing also played an important role in the lives of the local coastal population of this region.
Fortunately, due to the museum Vanha Vaasa has been able to preserve much of the Finnish Swedish farm culture of past centuries.
Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
2 : 19 |
|
|
Northern Tier Cultural Alliance
PA North Country
Artisan Center & Store
One Washington Street
Towanda PA 18848
http://www.ntculturalalliance.org/pncacs.html
August Store Hours:
Monday: 10am to 2pm
Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Closed Sunday
PA North Country Artisan Center & Store features items produced by
people who live and work in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier Counties.
Hardscrabble farmers and lumbermen settled these mountains,
carving out enduring communities. Settlers from variedplaces forged a new
cultural identity. They wove customs from the "Old Country" into a new
agricultural lifestyle adjusted for short, cool summers and long, harsh
winters.
The land provided the raw materials of a good life for miners, farmers,
lumbermen, fishermen, and hunters. Hard work shaped logs into boards, but
also yielded intricate carvings. Thrift and vision transformed salvaged
scraps into utilitarian quilts of extraordinary beauty.
The rhythm of the seasons still sets the pace of life in the
Northern Tier. No matter what the calendar says, maple sugaring can't
start until snapping cold nights and warm days prompt sap to run. Long
winter nights around a wood stove invite popcorn, corn soup, singing,
storytelling, whittling, quilting, weaving. The richness of the landscape
and cultural heritage fosters folk art and products pleasing to all the
senses.
Proceeds from sales at the PA North Country Artisan Center & Store
support the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance's mission of educating the
public about cultural traditions, history and art of the Pennsylvania
Northern Tier and to assist tradition bearers and traditional artists in
the preservation of their work.
For more information, contact NTCA at 570-265-7455 or
info@ntculturalalliance.org.
Copyright 2007 Northern Tier Cultural Alliance One Washington Street,
Towanda, PA 18848
Phone: 570-268-7455 fax: 570-265-4558 |
|
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
2 : 23 |
|
|
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/358135/north_country_pennsylvania_artisan.html
Northern Tier Cultural Alliance
PA North Country
Artisan Center & Store
One Washington Street
Towanda PA 18848
http://www.ntculturalalliance.org/pncacs.html
August Store Hours:
Monday: 10am to 2pm
Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Closed Sunday
PA North Country Artisan Center & Store features items produced by
people who live and work in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier Counties.
Hardscrabble farmers and lumbermen settled these mountains,
carving out enduring communities. Settlers from variedplaces forged a new
cultural identity. They wove customs from the "Old Country" into a new
agricultural lifestyle adjusted for short, cool summers and long, harsh
winters.
The land provided the raw materials of a good life for miners, farmers,
lumbermen, fishermen, and hunters. Hard work shaped logs into boards, but
also yielded intricate carvings. Thrift and vision transformed salvaged
scraps into utilitarian quilts of extraordinary beauty.
The rhythm of the seasons still sets the pace of life in the
Northern Tier. No matter what the calendar says, maple sugaring can't
start until snapping cold nights and warm days prompt sap to run. Long
winter nights around a wood stove invite popcorn, corn soup, singing,
storytelling, whittling, quilting, weaving. The richness of the landscape
and cultural heritage fosters folk art and products pleasing to all the
senses.
Proceeds from sales at the PA North Country Artisan Center & Store
support the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance's mission of educating the
public about cultural traditions, history and art of the Pennsylvania
Northern Tier and to assist tradition bearers and traditional artists in
the preservation of their work.
For more information, contact NTCA at 570-265-7455 or
info@ntculturalalliance.org.
Copyright 2007 Northern Tier Cultural Alliance One Washington Street,
Towanda, PA 18848
Phone: 570-268-7455 fax: 570-265-4558 |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
0 : 14 |
|
|
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/358135/north_country_pennsylvania_artisan.html
Northern Tier Cultural Alliance
PA North Country
Artisan Center & Store
One Washington Street
Towanda PA 18848
http://www.ntculturalalliance.org/pncacs.html
August Store Hours:
Monday: 10am to 2pm
Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Closed Sunday
PA North Country Artisan Center & Store features items produced by
people who live and work in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier Counties.
Hardscrabble farmers and lumbermen settled these mountains,
carving out enduring communities. Settlers from variedplaces forged a new
cultural identity. They wove customs from the "Old Country" into a new
agricultural lifestyle adjusted for short, cool summers and long, harsh
winters.
The land provided the raw materials of a good life for miners, farmers,
lumbermen, fishermen, and hunters. Hard work shaped logs into boards, but
also yielded intricate carvings. Thrift and vision transformed salvaged
scraps into utilitarian quilts of extraordinary beauty.
The rhythm of the seasons still sets the pace of life in the
Northern Tier. No matter what the calendar says, maple sugaring can't
start until snapping cold nights and warm days prompt sap to run. Long
winter nights around a wood stove invite popcorn, corn soup, singing,
storytelling, whittling, quilting, weaving. The richness of the landscape
and cultural heritage fosters folk art and products pleasing to all the
senses.
Proceeds from sales at the PA North Country Artisan Center & Store
support the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance's mission of educating the
public about cultural traditions, history and art of the Pennsylvania
Northern Tier and to assist tradition bearers and traditional artists in
the preservation of their work.
For more information, contact NTCA at 570-265-7455 or
info@ntculturalalliance.org.
Copyright 2007 Northern Tier Cultural Alliance One Washington Street,
Towanda, PA 18848
Phone: 570-268-7455 fax: 570-265-4558 |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
1 : 19 |
|
|
WTF-DVD-TAH - Tahiti and Fiji Filmed and produced by Fran & Brooke Reidelberger Scripted and narrated by Fran Reidelberger Fiji and Tahiti are two examples of the mystical beauty that exemplify an earthly paradise fro romantic world travels. In this new film, Fran Reidelberger highlights the scenic splendor of both of these South Pacific nations while detailing colorful similarities as well as dramatic historical differences.In Fiji,-- tour Suva, the country's capital city and seat of power for the British during almost a hundred years of colonial control - -- visit the Fiji Museum to learn about Fiji's Melaneasian heritage and its newly won independence from Britain - -- learn about the important role played by East Indians in developing Fiji's economy and see a fascinating Indian regilious ceremony called, "the spirit of holy torture" - -- fly to the island of Ovalau to see where missionaries began converting Fijians from canibalism to Christianity - -- travel the Coral Coast on Viti Levu, see specftacular orchis, and Fijians walk through fire and accross white-hot stones barefooted - -- see gold mining, sugar cane harvesting and agriculture, three of Fiji's major industries - -- journey to the remote Yasawa Islands to take part in a Fijian welcoming ceremony featuring Yagona, the country's national drink - -- attend a meke, an exciting and colorful festival of song and dance.In Tahiti,-- tour Papeete, the country's capital city on the island of Tahiti - -- learn about French and English influence, visit the municpal market and admire the elegant hats of the church ladies on Sunday - -- experience Papeete at night, including a Polynesian florr show - -- walk around Point Venus where the first Europeans -- Captains Wallis, Bligh and Cook -- landed in the 1700's - -- tour the botanical gardens and visit a small museum on the garden grounds honoring French artis Paul Gaugain - -- see beyond the beauty of the Bougainvillea flower to the man for whom it was named, French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainvile - -- travel to: Moorea -- to see the famous Bali Hai peak and see how to tie and wear the pareu, the national dress of Tahiti - Huahine and Raiatea -- to see the important ancient temples recenly uncovered, and the site where many Polynesian explorations were launched hundreds of years ago - and Bora Bora -- to attend an international sailing regatta, meet a model ship builder, see the remains of the U.S. military presence in Tahiti during WWII, and to explore the specatular underwater world, including swimming with sharks! |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
5 : 2 |
|
|
On the right bank of the lower part of Hron river, in the southeast part of Podunajská nížina (lowland) the village of Šarovce is situated. It has a rich history. Its roots go far, before the date of the first written mention in the year 1245. Nowadays, modern village with complete infrastructure is home for 1650 inhabitants of various nationality. There is the civil association „Spoločná budúcnosť" (Common future), of which target is to increase employment and education of Romany dwellers. In the past, agricultural character prevailed. In spite of its still lasting meaning, also a business spirit develops in shape of services and trade. Mainly tourist trade has great conditions for development there. There was established a museum of folk culture that manifests love of local inhabitants to their folk heritage. It was built with the assistance of European Union fonds. Roman-Catholic church was built in the 17th century. In its interior wall paintings and rich decoration capture. Building of church of reformed denomination also comes to the 17th century. To others sacral monuments we refer the chapel od St. Donáth at the entrance to the village. The area offers to the visitors stopping by the beautiful seclusions of Hron river and in summer using of local cycling trail. In Šarovce you have a chance to buy fresh and cheap vegetable, grown on local farm. Annually on 26th August unique tomato festivities are organised in Šarovce. It is a celebration and tour of demonstration vegetable which was grown up during the year. Besides delicious stewed vegetable salad prepared in many ways, there also wait for you many funny attractions like bull riding, beer drinking and pizza eatting competitions. The funniest is tomato war that enjoy either children or adults. The festivities finish in a community centre by performance of folk choruses. You are heartily invited to the next festivity. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
8 : 11 |
|
|
Part 2/3
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com
Title: Professor Salim Al-Hassani
1001 Inventions Manchester Exhibition
Date: March 9th 2006
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Subject: The Significance of Muslim Heritage to Humanity
Aim: The 1001 Inventions project strongly emphasizes how Muslims, working harmoniously alongside people of different faiths and races across Europe, Asia and Africa, were able to contribute extensively in many fields including science and medicine.
Description: In the West, the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages is usually seen as an interlude between two great flowering of civilisations, in which little advancement of knowledge took place. However, in this period Islamic scholars across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia were very busy preserving and building on the knowledge of the ancient world. From the use of the catgut in internal surgery to the first flight with a man-made device, the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation inspired numerous scientific and technological advancements which still impact on our world today. The 1001inventions conferences will explore some of these development and achievements, across fields as diverse as maths and agriculture, cartography and medicine...
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
8 : 3 |
|
|
Part 3/3
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com
Title: Professor Salim Al-Hassani
1001 Inventions Manchester Exhibition
Date: March 9th 2006
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Subject: The Significance of Muslim Heritage to Humanity
Aim: The 1001 Inventions project strongly emphasizes how Muslims, working harmoniously alongside people of different faiths and races across Europe, Asia and Africa, were able to contribute extensively in many fields including science and medicine.
Description: In the West, the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages is usually seen as an interlude between two great flowering of civilisations, in which little advancement of knowledge took place. However, in this period Islamic scholars across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia were very busy preserving and building on the knowledge of the ancient world. From the use of the catgut in internal surgery to the first flight with a man-made device, the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation inspired numerous scientific and technological advancements which still impact on our world today. The 1001inventions conferences will explore some of these development and achievements, across fields as diverse as maths and agriculture, cartography and medicine...
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
2 : 38 |
|
|
TO ORDER: www.MyPCTalks.com
Now the awe-inspiring beauty of Hawaii is available on your TV or PC. This DVD video is your one stop guide to Hawaii - America's tropical paradise, with exotic landscapes, the surf, sun and fun. And the videos are indexed so you can plan your tour.
Spectacular DVD videos - You'll see Oahu's world-class surfing, its museums, Pearl Harbor, shopping and exciting nightlife, and visit the Big Island with its explosive volcanic forces. See Maui's golden beaches, Mount Haleakala, Iao Valley - the "Yosemite of the Pacific", take stunning scuba dives and drive the magnificent road to Hana. In Kauai, visit Waimea Canyon - the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Explore Hawaii's rich culture, its Kings and goddesses plus a hula that was so alluring that the missionaries banned it.
This terrific guide reveals the top dream destination in America - perfect for a wedding or a vacation where you can swim, surf, golf, hike, kayak, parasail, scuba dive, snorkel, sail or just kick back and relax on the beach.
Incredible Travel Planner - See the videos and then plan a spectacular vacation to a land of incredible beauty and fun. The following is a short overview of this enchanting paradise.
Oahu - See Honolulu, Waikiki, the north shore & the Bonsai Pipeline; pineapple fields; Waikiki Aquarium with reef sharks, sea dragons; the Polynesian Cultural Center with dances by native Fiji, Tahiti and other Polynesians. The Bishop Museum has the cloak of Kamehameha, Hawaii's most famous ruler. It was made from feathers of 60,000 birds. At the museum also see models of whaling ships, which were based in Hawaii in the 19th century when they hunted whales throughout the Pacific.
Maui - This island has beautiful golden beaches, shopping and spectacular golf courses. Or take the challenging drive to Hana with its dramatic waterfalls, lush rainforests, and picture perfect views, plus the 7 sacred pools, which almost look like the Garden of Eden. Mount Haleakala is called the House of the Sun and at the top of this mountain, you'll see a crater, which is bigger than Manhattan. It's over 2 miles wide and 7 miles long. For a unique challenge take a bike ride down - one of world's longest downhill bike rides. Iao Valley is one of Hawaii's most spectacular sites. In fact, it's so beautiful that it's been called the Yosemite of the Pacific. Inside the center of this heavenly valley is the stunning Iao Needle, which rises over 1200 feet. Nearby there's a small park, which pays tribute to Hawaii's diverse heritage, including immigrants who came from Korea, Japan and China. There are gardens, and pavilions.
The Big Island - You'll see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and get a close up look at these stunning displays of nature including explosive volcanoes with lava flows. And see the Thurston Lava tube, which was formed after the lava flows, stopped. The cooler outer layers hardened but the hotter inner layers continue to empty out of the tubes. Then see the town of Hilo, where many cruise ships stop. Nearby are Rainbow Falls and also an even much larger even more stunning 420-foot waterfall. Plus see Hawaii's most sacred areas for their royalty, which includes wooden guardians watching over a sacred temple where over 20 chiefs were buried. This is where there were ceremonies for the high chief, his wives and warriors. It is where Hawaii's chiefs both relaxed and managed the country. Captain Cook was the first European to land in Hawaii. Hawaiians initially thought that he was a God, since his impressive ships appeared during a sacred festival. But quickly, they realized he was a mere mortal. There were fights and Captain Cook was killed. Coffee and bananas are grown here and agriculture still plays an important role in Hawaiian's economy. Also Hawaii has cowboys -- that's right cowboys. Mexicans came to Hawaii in the early 1800s to herd cattle even before cowboys were common in the Western U.S. The largest Ranch was the Parker Ranch which at one point covered almost half million acres. Since this is a young island, it has only a few white sandy beaches. And on this active volcanic island, the sand can be black.
Kauai - See Waimea Canyon, Kauai's most famous site. As you travel through this area, you'll see waterfalls, which are over 700 feet high. Many filmmakers have used this dramatic scenery for films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. The most popular resort along the southern coast is Poipu Beach, which has long stretches of golden sand. See the coconut coast and the north shore near Princeville. It's so impressive, that when they made the movie "South Pacific', they filmed it here. Further west at the end of the road is the base of a 1300-foot cliff, and it's where the Na Pali Coast begins.
Keywords: water sports coral reefs tradition nightclubs tasty food resorts ocean banyan tree sex sexy women trade winds 2007 2008 2009 |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
0 : 35 |
|
|
Palmer is a city in and the borough seat of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 4,533. 2005 Census Bureau estimates give the city a population of 6,920.
Geography
Palmer is located at 61°36′7″N, 149°7′2″W (61.601879, -149.117351)[2].
Palmer is 68 km (42 miles) northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.7 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 4,533 people, 1,472 households, and 1,058 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,206.3 people per square mile (465.5/km²). There were 1,555 housing units at an average density of 413.8/sq mi (159.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.94% White, 2.05% Black or African American, 8.18% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races, and 6.29% from two or more races. 3.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.9% were of German, 10.5% United States or American, 8.9% Irish and 8.7% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 1,472 households out of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,571, and the median income for a family was $53,164. Males had a median income of $44,716 versus $25,221 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,203. About 6.0% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
Palmer began in 1916 as a railway station on the Matanuska branch of the Alaska Railroad. In 1935, during the Great Depression, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal projects, established the Matanuska Colony. From Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, 203 families traveled by train and ship to reach the fledgling colony, arriving in the summer of 1935. Upon their arrival they were housed in a tent city during their first Alaskan summer. Each family drew lots for 40 acre tracts and their farming adventure began in earnest. The failure rate was high, but many of their descendants still live in the area and there are sill many operating farms in the Palmer area, including Vanderwheele and Wolverine farms. While the colonists had varying degrees of success with farming, Palmer is the only Alaskan Community that developed from an agricultural lifestyle.
In addition to an agrarian heritage, the colony families brought with them small town values, institutional structures, and a well planned city center. Many of the structures built are now in a nationally recognized historic district. Construction of the statewide road system and the rapid development of Anchorage has fueled growth around Palmer. Many Palmer residents commute to work in Anchorage.
[edit] Points of Interest
Palmer is most noted in Alaska as the location of the annual Alaska State Fair, where Palmer's agricultural spirit lives on. The Alaska State Fair holds contests for largest vegetable in several categories, and many national and even world records have been recorded at the fair, with the cabbage and lettuce categories usually dominating the local interest.
Palmer hosts an historic log cabin Visitor Center in the heart of downtown that entertains more than 35,000 visitors each year. The visitor center has a two acre showcase garden and lawn that is the "perfect place to have a picnic." The Palmer Museum of History and Art is located in the Visitor Center and offers visitors chance to view artifacts from Palmer's history and learn about how the town came to be.
A couple of blocks away from the visitor center is the United Protestant Church. It was built in 1936-37 and is one of the historically registered original colonial buildings in Palmer. There are also several bookstores, including "Alaskana Books" which carries a collection of rare and collectible Alaskana books, and "Fireside Books" a quirky little independent bookstore, known for its good books and ugly coffee.
Alaska Raceway Park is a nearby dragstrip. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
1 : 38 |
|
|
The modern town of Vergina was founded in 1922 near the two small agricultural villages of Koutles (Greek: Κούτλες ; Turkish Kütles) and Barbes (Mπάρμπες) previously owned by the Turkish bey of Palatitsi and inhabited by 25 Greek families in his employ as serfs. After the Treaty of Lausanne and the eviction of the Bey landlords, the land was distributed in lots to the existing inhabitants, and to 121 other Greek families from Bulgaria and Asia Minor after population exchange agreements between Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. The name for the new town was suggested by the then Metropolitan of Veria, who named it after a legendary queen of ancient Beroea (the modern Veria) who had supposedly lived in the vicinity.
Vergina is situated close to the site of ancient Aigai (or Aegae), once the royal capital of ancient Macedon, ruled by the Argead dynasty from about 650 BC onwards. The ruins of another Aigai, one of the Aeolian dodecapolis, lie 35 km S of Pergamon, by the modern Aiolis, Turkey.
The town became internationally famous in 1977, when the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos unearthed what he claimed was the burial site of the kings of Macedon, including the tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. Although the identification of Philip II as one of the kings buried there has been disputed, there is no doubt that the site is of great archaeological importance.
The larnax (gold casket) which Andronikos identified as containing the remains of Philip II has a symbol of a sun or star on its lid, and this Vergina Sun has been adopted as a symbol of Greek Macedonia. It became the subject of international controversy in 1991 when the newly independent former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia used the symbol on its flag. This outraged Greek public opinion, which saw the use of the symbol as an insult to its historical heritage and implying a territorial claim on Greece. In 1995 the Republic of Macedonia agreed to drop the use of the symbol.
The entrance to the "Great Tumulus" Museum at Vergina
The entrance to the "Great Tumulus" Museum at Vergina
Archaeologists were interested in the hills around Vergina as early as the 1850s, knowing that the site of Aigai was in the vicinity and suspecting that the hills were burial mounds. Excavations began in 1861 under the French archaeologist Leon Heuzey, sponsored by the Emperor Napoleon III. Parts of the Macedonian royal palace of Palatista were discovered. However, the excavations had to be abandoned because of the risk of malaria.
In 1937 the University of Thessaloniki resumed the excavations. More ruins of the ancient palace were found, but the excavations were abandoned on the outbreak of war with Italy in 1939. After the war the excavations were resumed and during the 1950s and 1960s the rest of the royal capital was uncovered. Manolis Andronikos became convinced that a hill called the "Great Tumulus" (in Greek, Μεγάλη Τούμπα) concealed the tombs of the Macedonian Kings.
In 1977 Andronikos undertook a six-week dig at the Tumulus and found four buried chambers which he identified as hitherto undisturbed tombs. Three more were found in 1980. Excavations continued through the 1980s and 1990s. Andronikos maintained that one of the tombs was of Philip II, and another was of Alexander IV of Macedon, son of Alexander the Great. This has now become the firm view of Greek archaeologists and the Greek government, but some other archaeologists dispute this identification.
A large quantity of works of art, many in gold, were recovered from the tombs. These included the larnax with the Sun of Vergina on the lid, which Andronikos maintains contained the cremated remains of Philip II. These treasures were temporarily housed in the Thessaloniki Archeological Museum. Recently they were returned to Vergina and installed in a museum which has been built inside the Great Tumulus.
After the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was divided between a number of successors. Aigai remained the capital of the Macedonian kings. Under Antigonus II Gonatas in the 3rd century BC, the palace of Palatista was constructed at Aigai but was later partly destroyed by fire. More tombs were constructed during this period.
In 168 BC, the Roman Republic invaded, overthrew the Antigonid Dynasty and destroyed Aigai. It was later rebuilt but declined after the 1st century AD. The city was eventually abandoned.
In 1996, the archaeological importance of Vergina led UNESCO to add it to its list of World Heritage Sites. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
2 : 2 |
|
|
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/358135/north_country_pennsylvania_artisan.html
Northern Tier Cultural Alliance
PA North Country
Artisan Center & Store
One Washington Street
Towanda PA 18848
http://www.ntculturalalliance.org/pncacs.html
August Store Hours:
Monday: 10am to 2pm
Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 2pm
Closed Sunday
PA North Country Artisan Center & Store features items produced by
people who live and work in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier Counties.
Hardscrabble farmers and lumbermen settled these mountains,
carving out enduring communities. Settlers from variedplaces forged a new
cultural identity. They wove customs from the "Old Country" into a new
agricultural lifestyle adjusted for short, cool summers and long, harsh
winters.
The land provided the raw materials of a good life for miners, farmers,
lumbermen, fishermen, and hunters. Hard work shaped logs into boards, but
also yielded intricate carvings. Thrift and vision transformed salvaged
scraps into utilitarian quilts of extraordinary beauty.
The rhythm of the seasons still sets the pace of life in the
Northern Tier. No matter what the calendar says, maple sugaring can't
start until snapping cold nights and warm days prompt sap to run. Long
winter nights around a wood stove invite popcorn, corn soup, singing,
storytelling, whittling, quilting, weaving. The richness of the landscape
and cultural heritage fosters folk art and products pleasing to all the
senses.
Proceeds from sales at the PA North Country Artisan Center & Store
support the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance's mission of educating the
public about cultural traditions, history and art of the Pennsylvania
Northern Tier and to assist tradition bearers and traditional artists in
the preservation of their work.
For more information, contact NTCA at 570-265-7455 or
info@ntculturalalliance.org.
Copyright 2007 Northern Tier Cultural Alliance One Washington Street,
Towanda, PA 18848
Phone: 570-268-7455 fax: 570-265-4558 |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
7 : 47 |
|
|
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com
Title: 1001 Inventions Conference Chapter One, Part 1/4
First Speaker: Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekmeleddin_Ihsanoglu
Co-ordinator: Professor Salim Al-Hassani
Date: March 8th 2006
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Subject: The Significance of Muslim Heritage to Humanity
Aim: The 1001 Inventions project strongly emphasizes how Muslims, working harmoniously alongside people of different faiths and races across Europe, Asia and Africa, were able to contribute extensively in many fields including science and medicine.
Description: In the West, the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages is usually seen as an interlude between two great flowering of civilisations, in which little advancement of knowledge took place. However, in this period Islamic scholars across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia were very busy preserving and building on the knowledge of the ancient world. From the use of the catgut in internal surgery to the first flight with a man-made device, the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation inspired numerous scientific and technological advancements which still impact on our world today. The 1001inventions conferences will explore some of these development and achievements, across fields as diverse as maths and agriculture, cartography and medicine...
Other Speakers: Prof. Charles Burnett, Dr Zohor Idrisi, Dr. John Healey, Dr. Okasha El-Daly, Prof. Nil Sari Akdeniz, Dr. Emilie Savage-Smith, Prof. Mohamed El-Gomati, Dr anne-Maria Brennan, Dr. Oliver Kahl, Dr. S. Kauser,Professor Salim Al-Hassani, Prof.Dr. Muhammad Abattouy, Dr Subhi Azzawi, Prof. Gunhan Danisman
© Gem ibn ya'tube :)
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
3 : 53 |
|
|
http://jorgetavares.planetaclix.pt
Tomar attracts many tourists because of its varied monuments. These include:
Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ - Declared a Unesco World Heritage Site
Church of Santa Maria do Olival
Synagogue of Tomar: Tomar has the best preserved mediaeval synagogue of Portugal. It was built in the mid-15th century and has an interesting interior with Gothic vaulting and columns with classic capitals. Since 1939 it houses the small Jewish Museum Abraão Zacuto, with interesting pieces related to Jewish history in Portugal.
Church of Saint John the Baptist (São João Baptista)
Chapel of Our Lady of the Conception (Nossa Senhora da Conceição)
Church and Convent of Saint Iria: Located near the Nabão river
Convento de Cristo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tomar (em português arcaico Thomar), é uma cidade portuguesa com cerca de 20 000 habitantes, pertencente ao Distrito de Santarém, região Centro e subregião do Médio Tejo. Pertencia ainda à antiga província do Ribatejo, hoje porém sem qualquer significado político-administrativo.
É sede de um município com 350,47 km² de área e 43 007 habitantes (2001), subdividido em 16 freguesias. O município é limitado a norte pelo município de Ferreira do Zêzere, a leste por Abrantes, a sul por Vila Nova da Barquinha, a oeste por Torres Novas e a noroeste por Ourém.
A cidade é atravessada pelo Rio Nabão, que é afluente do Rio Zêzere. Situa-se na parte norte da região mais fértil de Portugal e uma das mais férteis da Península Ibérica, a lezíria ribatejana.
O turismo é hoje uma actividade de primeira importância, já que o Convento de Cristo, principal Monumento da cidade foi nomeado Património Mundial pela UNESCO em 1983. É centro industrial, com fábricas de papel, derivados de madeira e outras; e comercial. A terra é fértil e produz frutas, azeite, vinho.
Festa dos Tabuleiros - 30 JUNHO A 9 JULHO 2007
Festa que se realiza em Tomar de quatro em quatro anos, anima as suas ruas durante três dias sendo visitada por turistas de todos os cantos do mundo. Durante os dias que antecedem esta festa, os moradores de diversas ruas organizam-se para as decorar com vista à obtenção do prémio da rua mais bonita, num concurso que se realiza no primeiro dia da festa, Sexta-feira à noite. Noite maravilhosa de cor, alegria, luz, som e festa que só termina já em plena madrugada.
O ponto alto da festa é no Domingo, com o cortejo dos tabuleiros a percorrer as ruas da cidade e que se inicia na Praça da República, em frente à Câmara Municipal.
Esta festa tem como origens o culto ao Espírito Santo, devoção criada pela Rainha Santa Isabel.
Os tabuleiros que as mulheres transportam à cabeça eram originariamente, oferendas ao Espírito Santo. Em média pesam 22 kg e são sempre da altura das mulheres que os transportam. Por vezes o seu peso aumenta pois nos cestos são metidas pedras de forma a baixar o centro de gravidade do tabuleiro para melhor equilíbrio.
A função dos homens é a de ajudarem as mulheres mas nunca transportam os tabuleiros.
Tomar, also known in English as Thomar, is a city of some 20,000 and also a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 351.0 km² and a total population of 43,007 inhabitants.
The municipality is composed of 16 parishes, and is located in the district of Santarém.
It was founded as head-quarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal in the 12th century and contains some of the most significant Templar monuments in Europe. Tomar was especially important in the 15th century when it was a centre of Portuguese overseas expansion under Henry the Navigator, the Grand Master of the Order of Christ, successor organization to the Templars in Portugal.
The seat of the municipality is the city of Tomar (which comprises the parishes of Santa Maria dos Olivais and São João Baptista). Tomar is also the capital of the Médio Tejo (Mid-Tagus river) region.
The Nabão river cuts across what was the ancient city of Nabantia: its inhabitants are called Nabantinos.
Tomar is historically one of the prime industrial and commercial centres of Portugal (not anymore though, as many factories located there have now closed). Tourism is an important source of revenue, since the Convento de Cristo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There is a commercial centre with many shops and considerable local attractiveness. The main industries today are paper, wood products, foodstuffs, ceramics, and other light industries.
The main agricultural products of the municipality are olive oil, wine, wheat and nuts. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
7 : 47 |
|
|
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com
Title: 1001 Inventions Conference Chapter One, Part 2/4
First Speaker: Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekmeleddin_Ihsanoglu
Co-ordinator: Professor Salim Al-Hassani
Date: March 8th 2006
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Subject: The Significance of Muslim Heritage to Humanity
Aim: The 1001 Inventions project strongly emphasizes how Muslims, working harmoniously alongside people of different faiths and races across Europe, Asia and Africa, were able to contribute extensively in many fields including science and medicine.
Description: In the West, the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages is usually seen as an interlude between two great flowering of civilisations, in which little advancement of knowledge took place. However, in this period Islamic scholars across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia were very busy preserving and building on the knowledge of the ancient world. From the use of the catgut in internal surgery to the first flight with a man-made device, the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation inspired numerous scientific and technological advancements which still impact on our world today. The 1001inventions conferences will explore some of these development and achievements, across fields as diverse as maths and agriculture, cartography and medicine...
Other Speakers: Prof. Charles Burnett, Dr Zohor Idrisi, Dr. John Healey, Dr. Okasha El-Daly, Prof. Nil Sari Akdeniz, Dr. Emilie Savage-Smith, Prof. Mohamed El-Gomati, Dr anne-Maria Brennan, Dr. Oliver Kahl, Dr. S. Kauser,Professor Salim Al-Hassani, Prof.Dr. Muhammad Abattouy, Dr Subhi Azzawi, Prof. Gunhan Danisman
© Gem ibn ya'tube :)
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
1 : 27 |
|
|
VPG-DVD-214 - KÓS
Kós is an historic island oasis beneath the Greek sun. Not the largest of the Dodekannissa Islands but certainly one of its most fascinating, with endless sandy beaches and an ancient heritage.
The capital of the island is Chora Kós and for two thousand years it has been the nerve centre of the island. The city once suffered devastating earthquakes and the island was plagued by numerous invaders including the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, the Knights of St. John and finally, the Turks.
The Platia Eleftherìas is the main square of today's Kós and contains the Archaeological Museum that is housed in a futuristic looking Italian building that dates back to the 1930's.
Four kilometres from the city high in the Dikeos Mountains is one of the island's most important sights, the Asklipion, an ancient hospital and sanctuary.
A winding road leads to the village of Kéfalos that from below looks like a small fortified complex. Its white houses and narrow alleys are free of traffic and it's as though time has stood still. Formerly a village of fishermen, agriculture is now the main source of income for the local people. Kéfalos has much historical significance as it was built on the ruins of the first capital of the island and Hypocrates was born here in 460 B.C.
Antimáchia Castle was built in the 13th century by the Venetians and later expanded by the Knights Of St. John. Its mighty external walls are most impressive but only a few cisterns and two small chapels remain.
Fascinating landscapes and the historic monuments of many époques make the Greek island of Kós a sparkling jewel of the Aegean. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
4 : 6 |
|
|
This video of Pink Planet takes you to the Florida Everglades with Bill, which is a subtropical marshland located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, specifically in parts of Monroe, Collier, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties. This 5000 year old geological formation comprises the southern half of a large watershed arising in the vicinity of Orlando known as the Kissimmee River system.
It has been called a "River of Grass" because of the slow flow of water from Okeechobee southward and the predominance of a sedge known as sawgrass. Slightly elevated points in this extremely flat area are covered with trees, usually cypress and red mangrove. Approximately 50 percent of the original Everglades has been lost to agriculture and urban development. Most of the rest is now protected in a national park, national wildlife refuge, and water conservation areas. Water from the Everglades is still used as a water supply for the South Florida metropolitan area. The Everglades is crossed from west to east by a toll road called "Alligator Alley", now part of Interstate 75.
Everglades National Park preserves the southern portion of the Everglades (all south of Tamiami Trail), but represents only 27.3% of the original area. The Park covers 2,357 mi² (6,105 km²) and is a World Heritage Site. The only highway access is the State Road 9336, running 47 miles (73 km) from Florida City to the coast at Flamingo. There have been recent expansions to the park's tourist facilities to bring in more money to Florida's economy such as a massive extension to the visiting center, many outposts along the bridges that span the Everglades that teach people about the many birds and other wildlife native to the Everglades as well as a small petting zoo. |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
0 : 29 |
|
|
Caltagirone in Sensational Sicily http://www.SensationalSicily.com is presented by Alessandro Sorbello http://www.AlessandroSorbello.com A town and comune in the province of Catania, on the island (and region) of Sicily, about 70 km southwest of Catania http://www.hotelsincatania.com . It is bounded by the comuni of Acate, Gela, Grammichele, Licodia Eubea, Mazzarino, Mazzarrone, Mineo, Mirabella Imbaccari, Niscemi, Piazza Armerina, San Michele di Ganzaria.
The famous decorated staircase of Caltagirone.The city has been long famous for the production of pottery and terra-cotta wares. Nowadays the production is more and more oriented to artistic production of ceramics and terra-cotta sculptures. Other activities are mainly related to agriculture (production of grapes, olives, peaches).
History
The city's name derives from the Arabic "qal'at-al-ganom" ("Castle of the Genies"). It was inhabited since pre-historical times, as attested by the presence of two necropolis dating from the second millenium BCE and by numerous other archaeological findings. It was later inhabited by the Sicels pre-Roman population.
The Arabs built here a castle, which in 1030 was attacked by Ligurian troops under the Byzantine general George Maniakes, and which have left traces of Ligurian language in the current dialect. The city flourished under the Norman and Hohenstaufen domination, becoming a renowned center for production of ceramics.
The city was almost completely destroyed by the severe earthquake of 1693. Many public and private buildings have then been reconstructed in Baroque style. Primarily for this reason, the city has been inserted, together with the surrounding territory in an area protected by the UNESCO World Heritage program.
Main sights
A collection of ancient and modern pottery and terra-cotta, dating back to the Magna Grecia period, is available in the local Museum of Pottery, created in 1965.
The main landmark of the city is the 142-step monumental Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, built from 1608 in the old part of the town. The peculiarity is that each step is decorated with different hand-decorated ceramics, using styles and figures derived from the millennial tradition of pottery making. Once a year, on and around the day of the city's patron saint, (St. James, 25 July), the staircase is illuminated with candles of different colours arranged in order to reconstruct an artistic drawing of several tens of meters.
Religious buildings include:
The Cathedral of St. Julian, of Norman origin, with a twentieth-century art nouveau façade by Saverio Gulli.
The Baroque church of San Francesco di Paola. The sacristy is in Gothic style, dating from before the 1693 earthquake.
San Francesco d'Assisi, edified in 1236 and rebuilt in Baroque style after 1693. The façade has two orders with marine symbols and a statue of the Immaculate. The dome is unfinished.
Church of the Gesù (1570). The façade has eight statues portraying saints and the Madonna with Child. The interior, one a single nave, houses a Pietà by Filippo Paladino (1607) and Christ's Nativity by Polidoro da Caravaggio.
Santa Maria del Monte (twelfth century).
The Renaissance Church of the New Capuchins, in white stone, with a noteworthy treasure and a picture gallery.
St. James.
Also noteworthy is the Palazzo Senatorio (fifteenth century), the former Town Hall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltagirone |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
0 : 20 |
|
|
When we say 'spoilt for choice' then this is definitely the case in Kent. There are so many visitor attractions to choose from and our lengthy list of those we featured in our show, with full web site details is outlined below. Details at www.britainsbestbreaks.tv |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
1 : 47 |
|
|
The Artefact Store |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
8 : 11 |
|
|
Part 1/3
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com
Title: Professor Salim Al-Hassani
1001 Inventions Manchester Exhibition
Date: March 9th 2006
Location: The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Subject: The Significance of Muslim Heritage to Humanity
Aim: The 1001 Inventions project strongly emphasizes how Muslims, working harmoniously alongside people of different faiths and races across Europe, Asia and Africa, were able to contribute extensively in many fields including science and medicine.
Description: In the West, the Middle Ages sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages is usually seen as an interlude between two great flowering of civilisations, in which little advancement of knowledge took place. However, in this period Islamic scholars across southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia were very busy preserving and building on the knowledge of the ancient world. From the use of the catgut in internal surgery to the first flight with a man-made device, the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation inspired numerous scientific and technological advancements which still impact on our world today. The 1001inventions conferences will explore some of these development and achievements, across fields as diverse as maths and agriculture, cartography and medicine...
http://www.1001inventions.com
http://www.muslimheritage.com |
|
 |
|
| Time : |
|
1 : 25 |
|
|
Sicily is directly adjacent to the region of Calabria via the Strait of Messina to the east. The early Roman name for Sicily was Trinacria, alluding to its triangular shape. The Sensational Sicily Project http://www.SensationalSicily.com is a collaboration with the Region of Sicily, The Italian Chamber of Commerce, Alessandro Sorbello Productions http://www.alessandrosorbello.com and New Realm Media http://www.newrealm.com.au
The volcano Etna, situated close to Catania, is 3,320 m (10,900 ft) high, making it the tallest active volcano in Europe. It is also one of the world's most active volcanoes.
The Aeolian islands to the north are administratively a part of Sicily, as are the Aegadian Islands and Pantelleria Island to the west, Ustica Island to the north-west, and the Pelagian Islands to the south-west.
Sicily has been noted for two millennia as a grain-producing territory. Oranges, lemons, olives, olive oil, almonds, and wine are among its other agricultural products. The mines of the Enna and Caltanissetta district became a leading sulfur-producing area in the 19th century but have declined since the 1950s. http://youtube.com/watch?v=NJAalPqBuFo&mode=related&search=
Sicily is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Syracuse (Siracusa), Trapani
History
The original inhabitants of Sicily, long absorbed into the population, were tribes known to Greek writers as the Elymians, the Sicani and the Siculi or Sicels. Of these, the last were clearly the latest to arrive on this land and were related to other Italic peoples of southern Italy, such as the Italoi of Calabria, the Oenotrians, Chones, and Leuterni (or Leutarni), the Opicans, and the Ausones. It's possible, however, that the Sicani were originally an Iberian tribe. The Elymi, too, may have distant origins outside of Italy, in the Aegean Sea area.
Phoenicians/Carthaginians, Greeks & Romans
Sicily was colonized by Phoenicians, Punic settlers from Carthage, and by Greeks, starting in the 8th Century BC. The most important colony was established at Syracuse in 734 BC. Other important Greek colonies were Gela, Acragas, Selinunte, Himera, and Zancle or Messene (modern-day Messina, not to be confused with the ancient city of Messene in Messenia, Greece). These city states were an important part of classical Greek civilization, which included Sicily as part of Magna Graecia - both Empedocles and Archimedes were from Sicily. Sicilian politics was intertwined with politics in Greece itself, leading Athens, for example, to mount the disastrous Sicilian Expedition during the Peloponnesian War.
The Greeks came into conflict with the Punic trading communities with ties to Carthage, which was on the African mainland, not far from the southwest corner of the region, and had its own colonies on Sicily. Palermo was a Carthaginian city, founded in the 8th century BC, named Zis or Sis ("Panormos" to the Greeks). Hundreds of Phoenician and Carthaginian grave sites have been found in necropoli over a large area of Palermo, now built over, south of the Norman palace, where the Norman kings had a vast park. In the far west, Lilybaeum (now Marsala) never was thoroughly Hellenized. In the First and Second Sicilian Wars, Carthage was in control of all but the eastern part of Sicily, which was dominated by Syracuse. In 415 BC, Syracuse became an object of Athenian imperialism as exemplified in the disastrous events of the Sicilian Expedition, which reignited the cooling Peloponnesian War.
In the 3rd century BC the Messanan Crisis motivated the intervention of the Roman Republic into Sicilian affairs, and led to the First Punic War between Rome and Carthage. By the end of war (242 BC) all Sicily was in Roman hands, becoming Rome's first province outside of the Italian peninsula.
The initial success of the Carthaginians during the Second Punic War encouraged many of the Sicilian cities to revolt against Roman rule. Rome sent troops to put down the rebellions (it was during the siege of Syracuse that Archimedes was killed). Carthage briefly took control of parts of Sicily, but in the end was driven off. Many Carthaginian sympathizers were killed— in 210 BC the Roman consul M. Valerian told the Roman Senate that "no Carthaginian remains in Sicily".
For the next 6 centuries, Sicily was a province of the Roman Empire. It was something of a rural backwater, important chiefly for its grainfields, which were a mainstay of the food supply of the city of Rome. The empire did not make much effort to Romanize the region, which remained largely Greek. The most notable event of this period was the notorious misgovernment of Verres, as recorded by Cicero in 70 BC, in his oration, In Verrem.
Byzantines
In 440 AD Sicily fell to the Vandal king Geiseric. A few decades later, it came into Ostrogothic hands, where it remained until it was conquered by the Byzantine general Belisarius in 535. But a new Ostrogothic king, Totila, drove down the Italian peninsula and then plundered and conquered Sicily in 550. Totila, in turn, was defeated and killed by the Byzantine general, Narses, in 552. For a brief period (662-668), during Byzantine rule, Syracuse was the imperial capital, until Constans II was assassinated. Sicily was then ruled by the Byzantine Empire until the Arab conquest of 827-902. It is reported in contemporary accounts that Sicilians spoke Greek or Italo-Greek dialects until at least the 10th century, and in some regions for several more centuries.
First Arab invasion of Sicily
In 535, Emperor Justinian I made Sicily a Byzantine province, and for the second time in Sicilian history, the Greek language became a familiar sound across the island. As the power of the Byzantine Empire waned, Sicily was invaded by the Arabs in 652 AD. However, this was a short lived invasion and the Arabs left soon after.
Arab control from Tunisia and Egypt
In around 700, the island of Pantelleria was captured by the Arabs, and it was only discord among the Arabs that prevented Sicily being next. Instead, trading arrangements were agreed and Arab merchants established themselves in Sicilian ports. Then, in 827 a failed Sicilian coup against an unpopular Byzantine governor. Euphemius, a wealthy landowner, who overcame the imperial garrison in Siracusa, declared himself Emperor and invited the Aghlabid Emir of Tunisia to help him. The response was a fleet of 100 ships and 10,000 troops under the command of Asad ibn al-Furat, which consisted largely of Arab Berbers from North Africa and Spain. After resistance at Siracusa, the Arabs gained a foothold in Mazara del Vallo. Palermo fell after a long siege in 831, but Siracusa held out until 878. From 842 to 859 the Arabs captured Messina, Modica, Ragusa and Enna. In 902 Taormina, the last Byzantine stronghold also fell to Arabs and by 965 all of Sicily was under Arab control and Palermo became one of the largest cities in the world.
Emirate of Sicily
Sicily was ruled by the Sunni Aghlabid dynasty in Tunisia and the Shiite Fatimids in Egypt. The Byzantines took advantage of temporary discord to occupy the eastern end of the island for several years. After suppressing a revolt the Fatimid caliph appointed Hassan al-Kalbi (948-964) as Emir of Sicily. He successfully managed to control the Byzantines and founded the Kalbid dynasty. Raids into southern Italy continued under the Kalbids into the 11th century, and in 982 a German army under Otto II was defeated near Crotone in Calabria. With Emir Yusuf al-Kalbi (990-998) a period of steady decline began. Under al-Akhal (1017-1037) the dynastic conflict intensified, with factions within the ruling family allying themselves variously with Byzantium and the Zirids. By the time of Emir Hasan as-Samsam (1040-1053) the island had fragmented into several small fiefdoms. As a virtually an independent emirate, Sicily played a privileged role as bridge between Africa and Europe. Trade flourished and taxes were low. The tolerant regime allowed subjects to abide by their own laws. Despite freedom of worship, Christians freely converted to Islam and there were soon hundreds of mosques in Palermo alone.
The Arabs initiated land reforms which in turn, increased productivity and encouraged the growth of smallholdings, a dent to the dominance of the landed estates. The Arabs further improved irrigation systems. A description of Palermo was given by Ibn Hawqual, a Baghdad merchant who visited Sicily in 950. A walled suburb called the Kasr (the palace) is the center of Palermo until today, with the great Friday mosque on the site of the later Roman cathedral. The suburb of Al-Khalisa (Kalsa) contained the Sultan's palace, baths, a mosque, government offices and a private prison. Ibn Hawqual reckoned 7,000 individual butchers trading in 150 shops.
The Cathedral of Palermo.In addition to Andalusian Arabs and other Arabs, there were Berbers, Persians, Greeks, Jews, Slavs and Lombards. Western Sicily particularly prospered with Berbers settling in the Agrigento area coupled with Bedouin, Syrians and Egyptian Arabs in Palermo.
Muslim rule in Sicily slowly came to an end following an invitation by the Emirs of Catania and Siracusa for a Norman invasion. The Normans, under Count Roger de Hauteville (Altavilla) attacked Sicily in 1061, beginning a thirty year struggle against the Arabs. In 1068, Roger and his men defeated the Arabs at Misilmeri but the most crucial battle was the siege of Palermo in 1072, and the conquest of Sicily was completed by 1091 with the defeat of the last Emir in Noto.
Arab-Norman period (1091-1224)
Following the Norman conquest, Arab influence continued to persist creating a hybrid culture on the island that has contributed much to the character of modern Sicily. The cultural diversity and religious tolerance of the period of Muslim rule under the Kalbid dynasty made Palermo the capital city of the Emirate of Sicily. This continued under the Normans who conquered Sicily in 1060-1090 (raising its status to that of a kingdom in 1130). During this period, Sicily became one of the wealthiest states in Europe, and according to historian John Julius Norwich, Palermo under the Normans became wealthier than the England of its day. After only a century, however, the Norman Hauteville dynasty died out and the south German (Swabian) Hohenstaufen dynasty ruled starting in 1194, adopting Palermo as its principal seat from 1220. But local Christian-Muslim conflicts fueled by the Crusades were escalating during this later period, and in 1224, Frederick II, grandson of Roger II, expelled the last remaining Muslims from Sicily, temporarily relocating many to a colony in Lucera on the southern mainland, while the rest fled to North Africa.
Conflict between the Hohenstaufen house and the Papacy led in 1266 to Sicily's conquest by Charles I, duke of Anjou: opposition to French officialdom and taxation led in 1282 to insurrection (the Sicilian Vespers) and successful invasion by king Peter III of Aragón. The resulting War of the Sicilian Vespers lasted until the peace of Caltabellotta in 1302. Sicily was ruled as an independent kingdom by relatives of the kings of Aragon until 1409 and then as part of the Crown of Aragon.
Spanish control
Ruled from 1479 by the kings of Spain, Sicily suffered a ferocious outbreak of plague (1656), followed by a damaging earthquake in the east of the region (1693). Sicily was frequently attacked by Barbary pirates from North Africa. Bad periods of rule by the crown of Savoy (1713-1720) and then the Austrian Habsburgs gave way to union (1734) with the Bourbon-ruled kingdom of Naples, first as independent kingdom under personal union, then (1816) as part of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Sicily was the scene of major revolutionary movements in 1820 and 1848 against Bourbon denial of constitutional government, even though the main request was recognition of an independent status from Naples. The 1848 revolution resulted in a sixteen month period of independence from the Bourbons before its armed forces took back control of the island on 15 May 1849.
In late 1852, Prince Emanuele Realmuto had set up power in North Central Sicily. Highly educated, the prince established a political system set to bring Sicily's economy to the highest levels in all of Italy. The Prince's life however was shortened by an assassination in 1857. To this day some of his work is still present in the Italian parliament.
Italian unification
Sicily was joined with the other Italian regions in 1860 following the invasion of irregular troops led by Giuseppe Garibaldi and the resultant so-called Risorgimento. http://www.greatitalians.com/garibaldi.htm
The new Italian state was a strongly centralized nation, and it did not take long before, in 1866, Palermo revolted against Italy. The city was soon bombed by the Italian navy, which disembarked on September 22 under the command of Raffaele Cadorna. Italian soldiers summarily executed the civilian insurgents, and took possession once again of the island.
A long extensive guerrilla campaign against the unionists (1861-1871) took place throughout southern Italy, and in Sicily, inducing the Italian governments to a ferocious military repression. Ruled under martial law for many years Sicily (and southern Italy) was ravaged by the Italian army that summarily executed thousands of people, made tens of thousands prisoners, destroyed villages, and deported people. The Sicilian economy collapsed, leading to an unprecedented wave of emigration. In 1894 labour agitation through the radical Fasci Siciliani led again to the imposition of martial law.
Map of the Allied landings in Sicily on 10 July 1943.The organised crime networks commonly known as the mafia extended their influence in the late 19th century (and many of its operatives also emigrated to other countries, particularly the United States); partly suppressed under the Fascist regime beginning in the 1920s, they recovered as a side effect of the massive World War II Allied invasion of Sicily on the night of July 10, 1943 when an allied armada of 2,590 vessels freed the then-Fascist Sicily. Mafia was the only organization present in Sicily to be a proved enemy of the Fascist regime and able to offer | | | | |
