Full text loading...
‘Reflux’ in distillation refers to a phenomenon whereby evaporated liquid trickles back into the still from which it originated. In much the same way, the art of distilling did not reach Russia directly from Byzantium, where it is believed to have first emerged. This paper explores the reasons behind Constantinople’s failure to become a technological hub for Muscovy, using the development of distilled spirits as a case study of missed technological transfer. It is argued that it was the Orthodox Church’s emphasis on mysticism, particularly through deeply contemplative and theocentric monastic movements such as Hesychasm, and the deliberate disregard of rational inquiry and secular sciences within Russian monasteries that hindered the diffusion of already available knowledge and associated skills.
Article metrics loading...
Full text loading...
Data & Media loading...