Tag Archives: Middle East

Cuisine and Crops in Central Africa – Colonial and Contemporary – Pt. 3

Posted on 23/08/2014 by dianabuja

Cuisine before Colonization: What did local people eat, prior to the introduction of New World crops?  I ask this, because from the prior blog on Cuisine and Crops in Central Africa,  it is primarily New World crops that were mentioned … Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa-General, Agriculture, Colonialism, Cuisine, History, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Excursion to the Pyramids of Gizeh, August 25, 1842

Posted on 19/12/2013 by dianabuja

The intrepid  global traveller Ida Pfeifer visited the Holy Lands and Egypt  in 1842.  While in Egypt she traveled to Giza and climbed the great pyramid.  Below is a description of her adventure, take from a longer blog on her … Continue reading →

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Posted in Colonial, Colonialism, Egypt, Egypt-Recent, Ida Pfeiffer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Filāḥa Texts Project: Medieval Books of Crop and Animal Husbandry

Posted on 25/07/2013 by dianabuja

After some months, The Kutub al-Filāḥa – or Books of [Arabic] Husbandry – is back online and with  new materials.  It is the only source (I’m aware of) that has been systematically documenting medieval Arabic manuscripts on these topics – and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Andalus, Arabic, Botany, Crop harvests, Egypt - Medieval, Europe - medieval, Indigenous crops & medicinal plants, Livestock, Manuscripts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Visit to the Holy Land by Ida Pfeiffer in 1842

Posted on 01/04/2013 by dianabuja

Ida Pfeiffer was one of the most intrepid of Victorian travellers.  In the early to mid part of the 19th century she travelled not only to the Middle East, but also to other areas of the globe.  This entry is about … Continue reading →

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Posted in Colonialism, Egypt-Recent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Cuisines and Crops of Africa, 18th Century: Food and Farming in Timbuktu

Posted on 02/02/2013 by dianabuja

Tétuan, Moroccan port town opposite Gibraltar.  Steel Engraving.  Institute in Hidlburghausen. 1842 In about 1789, the merchant and voyager Abd Salam Shabeeny  set out from his home city, the Moroccan port town of Tetuan (above picture), for Germany in order to procure items for … Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa-North, Africa-West, African rice, Agriculture, Caravan routes, Colonialism, Cuisine, Egypt-Recent, Explorers & exploration, Food, History, History-Recent, Indigenous crops & medicinal plants, Livestock, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Ebony & Adobe: Modern Words that Survive from Ancient Egypt – What, How and Why

Posted on 02/10/2012 by dianabuja

Above are but two of a series of words that originated in the Nile Valley.  The reasons for these survivals is perhaps not such a surprise, as discussed below.  Ebony: ‘Ebony’ as named and used in ancient Egypt, was the species … Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa-East, Arabic, Coptic, Demotic, Egypt-Ancient, Egypt-Recent, Hieroglyphic, Indigenous crops & medicinal plants, Mud brick houses | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Archaeology News Network: Chemical analysis of pottery reveals first dairying in Saharan Africa in the fifth millennium BC

Posted on 22/06/2012 by dianabuja

Using lipid biomarker and stable carbon isotope analysis, they examined preserved fatty acids held within the fabric of the pottery and found that half of the vessels had been used for processing dairy fats. This confirms for the first time … Continue reading →

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