Urbs - Magyar Várostörténeti Évkönyv 10-11. (Budapest, 2017)
Abstracts
Abstracts 455 ELEONÓRA GÉRA Urban life and natural environment in Pest-Buda and Óbuda at the end of the 18th century The paper outlines the development of the relationship between towns and natural environment from the expulsion of the Turks until the beginning of the 19th century. In this period the urban development and the citizens’ individual opportunities were highly influenced by the natural environment. Even those territories (e.g. swamps) were extensively utilized that were regarded worthless from the last third of the century. These territories played an important role supplying the poor people with food. Sedge, reed and bulrush were used as building materials; the right to cut wetland plants and grass were leased by the towns. In addition to it, in the Buda swamps very valuable Glauber’s salt could be found, which is regarded a universal pharmaceutical ingredient. The three towns lie along the Danube and it determines their life. Water usage, the revenues connected with water, the sharing of fishing rights or the decrees to prevent water pollution have not so far been examined. Similarly, the statutes for the protection of the vegetation of the cultivated and uncultivated areas have not received much attention. Another interesting question arises: how the natural conditions affected the growth of the town. Apart from measuring the towns’ ecological footprint, in a broader context this research informs about the nourishment or building habits and even about religious life. The belief in portents or the feasts to honour the saints associated with weather, harvest or viticulture can be considered as signs of the close co-existence with the natural environment. The harmony between men and nature came to an end in the last third of the 18th century, when the towns’ population increased and the development into cultural and economic capital started. At a different pace but all three city administrations launched great projects to serve the public good, which transformed the natural environment. ÉVA GYULAI Water and mills in Miskolc in the 15th—18th centuries Miskolc lies along two rivers. The source of the river Szinva is in the Bükk mountains and it flows through Diósgyőr and Miskolc into the Sajó; while the stream Pece splits into several branches. The two small rivers of the Bükkalja, the Hejő in Tapolca and Csaba, and the Szinva in Diósgyőr and Miskolc, made the microregion the centre of
