Spice Routes: A Journey Through Biodiversity and Commodities
This panel explores phytogeographic and ethnobotanical approaches delving into the efficacy of spices on various aspects of human life and how it has an impact on the advancement of innovation in spice products in the contemporary era. While ethnobotany peels back the layers of how spices weave into the fabric of local communities, from daily meals to sacred rituals and medicinal practices, phytogeography acts as a grand map, tracing the journeys of these plants across landscapes and continents. Together, these fields paint a rich picture of how cultural influences and environmental forces shape the fascinating world of spices. This panel can become a chamber for multidisciplinary experts to share their knowledge and insights on these important topics, which aim to illuminate the profound connections between historical spice trade, natural resources, and the vital need how to preserve spices for sustainable practices in the present day.
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Exploring Human Adaptation Expression: When the Concept of Creativity and Beauty Harmonize through Tangible and Intangib
This panel delves into the diverse ways of human expression concept of aesthetics which manifests through tangible and intangible creative cultural and art products as a form of human adaptation with its environment to create harmony along the spice routes history. Human creativity, aesthetic, beliefs, values, rituals, are realized as artistic expression and used to share ideas, communicate feelings, show emotions, and tell experiences about important things. Tangible (material culture) is a term used to the physical objects that people create and use in their daily basis. It can be anything, for instance textiles, architecture, clothing, and weapons that reflect cultural values and inspire creative exploration. Furthermore, intangible (non-material culture) refers to identity expression through beliefs and values with performing rituals, like music, dance and storytelling. These culture products can also be used to cultural identity and communicate with others to create a sense of community. The cultural products fostering human creativity that come up with new and original ideas. It is a fundamental human trait that is essential for problem-solving, innovation, and adaptation. The discussion will try to find out how tangible and intangible as human cultural products to create a holistic understanding of beauty expression in a form to harmonize with nature within a culture. Moreover, this panel also discuss the obstacle and chance that lie ahead in the effort to revitalize and protect expressions of art that are on the brink of extinction as cultural heritage.
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The Geopolitical Implications of Cultural Heritage Management
This panel dives into the heart of cultural heritage management, exploring the complex issues that spark public discourse and debate. At the forefront lies the tension between preserving heritage and ensuring access for all. Who should wield the power to protect it – the state, private interests, or local communities. Climate change throws down another gauntlet, with rising sea levels, extreme weather, and altered precipitation patterns threatening to damage or erase cultural landmarks. Technology offers a helping hand with digitization, remote monitoring, and crowdsourced data, but concerns linger about its potential to erode authenticity and facilitate cultural appropriation. Globalization, despite its ethical complexities, profoundly impacts heritage. The flow of people, goods, and ideas challenges traditional ownership and authenticity, prompting debates on managing heritage in a globalized world. Looking ahead, the panel examines future challenges: the surging demand for cultural tourism, the rise of nationalism rekindling interest in local and national cultures, and the geopolitical dance of heritage in international relations. This promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the intricate world of cultural heritage management.
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Maritime Societies
The existence of coastal communities has become an increasingly important issue on the global stage today. For hundreds of years, coastal communities have been at the forefront of interacting with people from various nations. In this way, the dynamics of maritime community life should no longer be seen as limited to fishermen and fisheries. But as a community unit that has a maritime culture in utilizing the natural resources of the coast and ocean, as well as carrying out certain economic activities. On the one hand, the world community's need for coastal resources is increasing, as is the need for fish and sand which are important commodities to meet people's needs today. On the other hand, we are witnessing an increasing fisheries crisis in the world and increasingly massive illegal sand mining activities on beaches. Coastal communities and marine ecosystems are definitely affected by this. Therefore, new strategies and approaches are needed to better understand the nature of this problem and to develop solutions. This panel will share learnings and initiate relationships between communities from various countries connected through the Spice Route. This panel will explore innovative strategies and approaches to address contemporary challenges faced by coastal and maritime communities.
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Global Encounters and Cultural Exchange
This panel will discuss the ways in which seafaring and trading routes have facilitated global encounters and cultural exchange. The discussion will cover the history and current practices of seafaring and trading, as well as the socio-economic and political factors that have shaped these activities. The panel will also discuss the archaeological remnants of seafaring and trading, which can increase our knowledge of the items that have been shipped or traded throughout history. Finally, the panel will discuss the knowledge and scientific transfers that have taken place between countries as a result of trade and seafaring.
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