concubinage

The practice of restricting sexual contact to a single partner (married or not) for a limited period of time, ending that relationship before beginning another (though in practice there may be a brief overlapping time-period) is referred to as serial monogamy (as opposed to polyamory, swinging, etc.). Historically, monogamy was much less practised than polygamy (specifically polygyny). Mostly because of European expansion, monoga ...

See also:

Monogamy, Monogamy - Human monogamy, Monogamy - Monogamy in the animal world

Read more here: » Monogamy: Encyclopedia II - Monogamy - Human monogamy

"Monogamy" also refers to the mating pattern in which an animal maintains a single sexual partner. Animals who exhibit monogamous relationships do so because it increases their ability to survive and hence their reproductive success. For this to be true then both mates must benefit from the relationship, and the number of young who are born and survive must be larger than the number who would survive had the pair not been monogamous. In altricial birds constant parental care is required to feed and protect young. Two parents means tha ...

See also:

Monogamy, Monogamy - Human monogamy, Monogamy - Monogamy in the animal world

Read more here: » Monogamy: Encyclopedia II - Monogamy - Monogamy in the animal world

Catharism was a religious movement with Gnostic elements that originated around the middle of the 10th century, branded by the contemporary Roman Catholic Church as heretical. It existed throughout much of Western Europe, but its home was in Languedoc and surrounding areas in southern France. The name Cathar most likely originated from Greek καθαροί, "pure ones". One of the first recorded uses is Eckbert von Schönau, who wrote on heretics from Colog ...

Including:

• Cathar - Origins
• Cathar - Beliefs
• Cathar - The human condition
• Cathar - Eschatology
• Cathar - Consolamentum
• Cathar - Theology
• Cathar - Social relationships
• Cathar - Suppression
• Cathar - Influences
• Cathar - The Holy Grail
• Cathar - Visigoths

Read more here: » Cathar: Encyclopedia - Cathar

The movie, set in the year 2022, depicts a future dystopia, a Malthusian catastrophe that takes place because humanity has failed to pursue sustainable development and has not halted population growth. Global warming and air and water pollution have produced a year-round heatwave, food and fuel resources are scarce, housing is dilapidated and overcrowded, and widespread government-sponsored euthanasia is encouraged as a means of reducing overpopulation. Charlton Heston plays Thorn, a New York City police detective, investigating the suspicio ...

See also:

Soylent Green, Soylent Green - Movie, Soylent Green - The world of Soylent Green, Soylent Green - Lexicon, Soylent Green - Trivia, Soylent Green - Cultural impact

Read more here: » Soylent Green: Encyclopedia II - Soylent Green - Movie

Wei Zifu was born from humble means, as an illegitimate child. She therefore took the family name of her mother, who was a servant at the household of Princess Pingyang (平陽公主), Emperor Wu's sister. Her brother Wei Qing was also an illegitimate child, of a different father. When Wei Zifu was still young, she became a singer at the princess' estate. Emperor Wu initially loved his first wife, Empress Chen Jiao greatly but after Empress Chen was unable to bear him a son after years of marriage, she began to lose favor. Circa 139 B ...

See also:

Empress Wei Zifu, Empress Wei Zifu - Family background and early years, Empress Wei Zifu - As empress, Empress Wei Zifu - The Crown Prince Ju revolt and death

Read more here: » Empress Wei Zifu: Encyclopedia II - Empress Wei Zifu - Family background and early years

The rebellion's army was its key strength. It was marked by a high level of discipline and fanaticism. They typically wore a uniform of red jackets with blue trousers and grew their hair long (長毛 Chángmáo). Large numbers of females serving in the army were also a unique feature amongst 19th century armies. The fighting was always bloody and extremely brutal, with little artillery but huge forces equipped with small arms. By 1856, the Taiping armies numbered just over 1 million. Their main strategy of conquest was to take major c ...

See also:

Taiping Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion - Beginning, Taiping Rebellion - Army, Taiping Rebellion - Theology, Taiping Rebellion - The Kingdom's policies, Taiping Rebellion - Administration, Taiping Rebellion - Climax, Taiping Rebellion - Downfall, Taiping Rebellion - Taiping Rebellion in popular culture

Read more here: » Taiping Rebellion: Encyclopedia II - Taiping Rebellion - Army

The resurgence of prostitution in mainland China has coincided with the introduction of Deng Xiaoping's liberalisation of Chinese economic policy in 1978. According to the incomplete statistics composed on the basis of nationwide crackdowns, the rate of prostitution in China has been rising every year since 1982.[7] Between 1989 and 1990, 243,183 people were apprehended for prostitution-related activities.^{See also:}

Prostitution in the People's Republic of China, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Prostitution during the Maoist era, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Prostitution after 1978, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Types and venues, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Legal responses, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Prostitution law, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Party disciplinary measures, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Policing, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - The question of legalisation, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Prostitution in the media, Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Notes and references

Read more here: » Prostitution in the People's Republic of China: Encyclopedia II - Prostitution in the People's Republic of China - Prostitution after 1978

As part of their struggle for independence, the Swiss cantons had already in the 15th century sought to limit the influence of the Church on their political sovereignty. Many monasteries had already come under secular supervision, and the administration of schools was in the hands of the cantons, although the teachers generally still were priests. Nevertheless, many of the problems of the Church also existed in the Swiss Confederacy. Many a cleric as well as the Church as a whole afforded a luxury lifestyle in stark contrast to the co ...

See also:

Reformation in Switzerland, Reformation in Switzerland - Development of Protestantism, Reformation in Switzerland - In search of a common theology, Reformation in Switzerland - Religious civil war, Reformation in Switzerland - Counter-Reformation, Reformation in Switzerland - Developments in the west, Reformation in Switzerland - Thirty Years' War, Reformation in Switzerland - Social developments, Reformation in Switzerland - Absolutism on the rise, Reformation in Switzerland - Persecution of heretics, Reformation in Switzerland - Science and arts: the Renaissance in Switzerland

Read more here: » Reformation in Switzerland: Encyclopedia II - Reformation in Switzerland - Development of Protestantism

The rebellion's army was its key strength. It was marked by a high level of discipline and fanaticism. They typically wore a uniform of red jackets with blue trousers and grew their hair long (長毛 Chángmáo). Large numbers of females serving in the army were also a unique feature amongst 19th century armies. The fighting was always bloody and extremely brutal, with little artillery but huge forces equipped with small arms. By 1856, the Taiping armies numbered just over 1 million. Their main strategy of conquest was to take major c ...

See also:

Taiping Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion - Beginning, Taiping Rebellion - Army, Taiping Rebellion - The Kingdom's policies, Taiping Rebellion - Administration, Taiping Rebellion - Climax, Taiping Rebellion - Downfall, Taiping Rebellion - Taiping Rebellion in popular culture

Read more here: » Taiping Rebellion: Encyclopedia II - Taiping Rebellion - Army

Gerbert was born in about 950 in the Auvergne region of France. Around 963, he entered the monastery of St. Gerald of Aurillac. In 967, Borrell II of Barcelona, visited the monastery, and the abbot asked the count to take Gerbert with him so that the lad could study mathematics in Spain. In the following years, Gerbert studied in the Christian-held city of Barcelona and possibly in the Islamic cities of Córdoba and Seville. In 969, Count Borrell made a pilgrimage to Rome, taking Gerbert with him. Gerbert there met pope John XIII and ...

See also:

Pope Silvester II, Pope Silvester II - Life, Pope Silvester II - Work, Pope Silvester II - Gerbert in legend, Pope Silvester II - Bibliography

Read more here: » Pope Silvester II: Encyclopedia II - Pope Silvester II - Life

Cathar - The human condition. The Cathars proclaimed there existed within humankind a spark of divine light. This light, or spirit, had fallen into captivity within a realm of corruption - identified with the material world. This was a distinct feature of classical Gnosticism, of Manichaeism and of the theology of the Bogomils. This concept of the human condition within Catharism most probably was due to direct and indirect historical influences from these older (and sometimes also violently suppressed) Gnostic m ...

See also:

Cathar, Cathar - Origins, Cathar - Beliefs, Cathar - The human condition, Cathar - Eschatology, Cathar - Consolamentum, Cathar - Theology, Cathar - Social relationships, Cathar - Suppression, Cathar - Influences, Cathar - The Holy Grail, Cathar - Visigoths

Read more here: » Cathar: Encyclopedia II - Cathar - Beliefs

While the official Church remained passive during the beginnings of the Reformation, the Swiss Catholic cantons took measures early on to keep the new movement at bay. They assumed judicial and financial powers over the clerics, outlawed concubinage, printing, distributing and the possession of reformatory tracts as well as studying Hebrew and Greek to put an end to the independent study of biblical sources. They laid down firm rules of conduct for the priests, and reserved the right to nominate priests in the first place, who previously had ...

See also:

Reformation in Switzerland, Reformation in Switzerland - Development of Protestantism, Reformation in Switzerland - In search of a common theology, Reformation in Switzerland - Religious civil war, Reformation in Switzerland - Counter-Reformation, Reformation in Switzerland - Developments in the west, Reformation in Switzerland - Thirty Years' War, Reformation in Switzerland - Social developments, Reformation in Switzerland - Absolutism on the rise, Reformation in Switzerland - Persecution of heretics, Reformation in Switzerland - Science and arts: the Renaissance in Switzerland

Read more here: » Reformation in Switzerland: Encyclopedia II - Reformation in Switzerland - Counter-Reformation

The dukes of Savoy had tried already for centuries to gain sovereignty over the city of Geneva, surrounded by Savoyard territory, for the Vaud in the north of Lake Geneva belonged to the duchy. The Reformation prompted the conflicts to escalate once more. Geneva exiled its bishop, who was backed by Savoy, in 1533 to Annecy. Berne and the Valais took advantage of the duke's involvement in northern Italy and his opposition to France. When Francesco Sforza died in Milan in 1534, the duke's troops were bound by the French engagement there, and Berne promptly conquered the Vaud and, t ...

See also:

Reformation in Switzerland, Reformation in Switzerland - Development of Protestantism, Reformation in Switzerland - In search of a common theology, Reformation in Switzerland - Religious civil war, Reformation in Switzerland - Counter-Reformation, Reformation in Switzerland - Developments in the west, Reformation in Switzerland - Thirty Years' War, Reformation in Switzerland - Social developments, Reformation in Switzerland - Absolutism on the rise, Reformation in Switzerland - Persecution of heretics, Reformation in Switzerland - Science and arts: the Renaissance in Switzerland

Read more here: » Reformation in Switzerland: Encyclopedia II - Reformation in Switzerland - Developments in the west

Historians count 13 (Geneva) or 14 (St Gallen) plague surges in Switzerland between 1500 and 1640, accounting for 31 plague years, and since 1580, smallpox outbreaks with an especially high mortality rate (80–90%) amongst children under the age of five occurred every four to five years. Nevertheless, the population in Switzerland grew in the 16th century from about 800,000 to roughly 1.1 million, i.e. by more than 35%. See also:

Reformation in Switzerland, Reformation in Switzerland - Development of Protestantism, Reformation in Switzerland - In search of a common theology, Reformation in Switzerland - Religious civil war, Reformation in Switzerland - Counter-Reformation, Reformation in Switzerland - Developments in the west, Reformation in Switzerland - Thirty Years' War, Reformation in Switzerland - Social developments, Reformation in Switzerland - Absolutism on the rise, Reformation in Switzerland - Persecution of heretics, Reformation in Switzerland - Science and arts: the Renaissance in Switzerland

Read more here: » Reformation in Switzerland: Encyclopedia II - Reformation in Switzerland - Social developments

During the Thirty Years' War, Switzerland was a relative "oasis of peace and prosperity" (Grimmelshausen) in war-torn Europe. The cantons had concluded numerous mercenary contracts and defence alliances with partners on all sides. Some of these contracts neutralized each other, which allowed the confederation to remain neutral. Despite the cantons' religious differences, the Tagsatzung developed a strong consensus against any direct military involvement. The confederacy did not allow any foreign army to cross its territory: the alpine ...

See also:

Reformation in Switzerland, Reformation in Switzerland - Development of Protestantism, Reformation in Switzerland - In search of a common theology, Reformation in Switzerland - Religious civil war, Reformation in Switzerland - Counter-Reformation, Reformation in Switzerland - Developments in the west, Reformation in Switzerland - Thirty Years' War, Reformation in Switzerland - Social developments, Reformation in Switzerland - Absolutism on the rise, Reformation in Switzerland - Persecution of heretics, Reformation in Switzerland - Science and arts: the Renaissance in Switzerland

Read more here: » Reformation in Switzerland: Encyclopedia II - Reformation in Switzerland - Thirty Years' War

After Wei Zifu became empress, Emperor Wu honored her family greatly. Wei Qing was made a key general in the war effort against Xiongnu, and after he won some major victories, not only he, but also his three young sons, were made marquesses. Similarly promoted and honored was her nephew Huo Qubing, a great general in his own right. As the years went by, the sexual attraction to Empress Wei by Emperor Wu would decrease tremendously. He favored several other concubines, including Consort Li (the sister of Li Guangli and Li Yannian) and ...

See also:

Empress Wei Zifu, Empress Wei Zifu - Family background and early years, Empress Wei Zifu - As empress, Empress Wei Zifu - The Crown Prince Ju revolt and death

Read more here: » Empress Wei Zifu: Encyclopedia II - Empress Wei Zifu - As empress

Hong Xiuquan gathered his support and in a time of considerable turmoil. The country had suffered a series of natural disasters, economic problems and defeats at the hands of the Western powers, problems that the ruling Qing dynasty did little to lessen. Anti-Manchu sentiment was strongest in the south, and it was these disaffected that joined Hong. The sect extended into militarism in the 1840s, initially against banditry. The persecution of the sect was the spur for the struggle to develop into ...

See also:

Taiping Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion - Beginning, Taiping Rebellion - Army, Taiping Rebellion - Theology, Taiping Rebellion - The Kingdom's policies, Taiping Rebellion - Administration, Taiping Rebellion - Climax, Taiping Rebellion - Downfall, Taiping Rebellion - Taiping Rebellion in popular culture

Read more here: » Taiping Rebellion: Encyclopedia II - Taiping Rebellion - Beginning

The impetus of the movement suffered greatly as Hong withdrew from active control of policies and administration in 1853. He had become progressively less compos mentis and devoted himself to meditation, and allegedly more sensual pursuits. The failure of the movement to secure European support or that of the middle classes was another blow. The Taipings failed to get unanimous support for their rebellion because of their hostility to many long-standing Chinese customs and certain Confucian values. This and their peasant mannerisms encouraged the gentry, the landed upper class, to side with ...

See also:

Taiping Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion - Beginning, Taiping Rebellion - Army, Taiping Rebellion - Theology, Taiping Rebellion - The Kingdom's policies, Taiping Rebellion - Administration, Taiping Rebellion - Climax, Taiping Rebellion - Downfall, Taiping Rebellion - Taiping Rebellion in popular culture

Read more here: » Taiping Rebellion: Encyclopedia II - Taiping Rebellion - Downfall

Hong Xiuquan gathered his support in a time of considerable turmoil. The country had suffered a series of natural disasters, economic problems and defeats at the hands of the Western powers, problems that the ruling Qing dynasty did little to lessen. Anti-Manchu sentiment was strongest in the south, and it was these disaffected that joined Hong. The sect extended into militarism in the 1840s, initially against banditry. The persecution of the sect was the spur for the struggle to develop into ...

See also:

Taiping Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion - Beginning, Taiping Rebellion - Army, Taiping Rebellion - Theology, Taiping Rebellion - The Kingdom's policies, Taiping Rebellion - Administration, Taiping Rebellion - Climax, Taiping Rebellion - Downfall, Taiping Rebellion - Taiping Rebellion in popular culture

Read more here: » Taiping Rebellion: Encyclopedia II - Taiping Rebellion - Beginning

Ranked below the King of Heaven (天王), Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全), the territory was divided among provincial rulers called kings or princes, initially there were five — the Kings of the Four Quarters and the King of the Yi (meaning flanks). Of the original rulers, the West King and South King were killed in combat in 1852. During a coup d'etat in 1856, the East King was murdered by the North King, and the North King himself was subsequently killed. The kings' names are: South King (南王), Feng Yunshan (馮雲山) (–1852) ...

See also:

Taiping Rebellion, Taiping Rebellion - Beginning, Taiping Rebellion - Army, Taiping Rebellion - Theology, Taiping Rebellion - The Kingdom's policies, Taiping Rebellion - Administration, Taiping Rebellion - Climax, Taiping Rebellion - Downfall, Taiping Rebellion - Taiping Rebellion in popular culture

Read more here: » Taiping Rebellion: Encyclopedia II - Taiping Rebellion - Administration