طلا: دایره‌المعارف فرهنگی

This encyclopedia provides detailed information about the historical, cultural, social, religious, economic, and scientific significance of gold, across the globe and throughout history. Gold has long been valued, revered, and assigned mythical properties in nearly every culture in the world, and has served as the basis for currency for countless societies. Just the word itself implies perfection, crowning achievement, purity, and wisdom--"golden era," "gold medal," "golden years," "heart of gold." What makes this material so special? Gold has been an intrinsic part of human culture and society throughout the world, both in ancient times and in the modern era. This precious metal has also played a central role in economics and politics throughout history. In fact, the value of gold remains a topic of debate amid the current upheavals of economic conditions and attendant reevaluations of modern financial principles. Gold: A Cultural Encyclopedia consists of more than 130 entries that encompass every aspect of gold, ranging from the ancient metallurgical arts to contemporary economies. The connections between these interdisciplinary subjects are explored and analyzed to highlight the many ways humankind's fascination with gold reflects historical, cultural, economic, and geographic developments. While the majority of the works related to gold focus on economic theory, this text goes beyond that to take a more sociocultural approach to the subject This Encyclopedia Provides Detailed Information About The Historical, Cultural, Social, Religious, Economic, And Scientific Significance Of Gold, Across The Globe And Throughout History. * Contains More Than 130 A–z Entries On The Significance Of Gold Worldwide, From Antiquity To The Present, From An Interdisciplinary Perspective, As Well As Sidebar Entries * Provides Unique Details And Remarkable Scope Of Facts In Each Entry Along With Direct References To And Examples Of Primary Source Materials * Photographs And Illustrations Of The Use And Significance Of Gold As Varied As Ca' D'oro In Venice, Royal Crowns, Filigree, Italian Florin Coin, Hatshepsut, Rumpelstiltskin, Wat Traimit, And Modern Bling * Extensive Bibliography Including Monographs, Scholarly Articles, Newspaper And Magazine Articles, Primary Source Documents, And Online Resources * Detailed Subject Index As Well As List Of Entries And Guide To Related Topics Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Entries......Page 8 Guide to Related Topics......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 A......Page 24 B......Page 44 C......Page 70 D......Page 106 E......Page 114 F......Page 124 G......Page 136 H......Page 170 I......Page 186 J......Page 202 K......Page 208 L......Page 218 M......Page 222 N......Page 232 O......Page 242 P......Page 246 R......Page 260 S......Page 266 T......Page 284 U......Page 298 V......Page 302 W......Page 306 Y......Page 310 Resource Guide......Page 312 Bibliography......Page 314 A......Page 326 B......Page 327 C......Page 328 F......Page 329 G......Page 330 H......Page 331 J......Page 332 M......Page 333 P......Page 334 S......Page 335 T......Page 336 Z......Page 337 Features y Contains more than 130 A-Z entries on the significance of gold worldwide, from antiquity to the present, from an interdisciplinary perspective, as well as sidebar entries y Provides unique details and remarkable scope of facts in each entry along with direct references to and examples of primary source materials y Photographs and illustrations of the use and significance of gold as varied as Ca' d'Oro in Venice, royal crowns, filigree, Italian florin coin, Hatshepsut, Rumpelstiltskin, Wat Traimit, and modern "bling" y Extensive bibliography including monographs, scholarly articles, newspaper and magazine articles, primary source documents, and online resources y Detailed subject index as well as list of entries and guide to related topics