The Library Ghost

    This post mainly covers the period from 800–1100, during the so-called Viking Age in Europe.  This period is also called the Early Middle Ages or the Dark Ages in western Europe.  I can find surprisingly few museum-quality videos about Viking-era medicine and toys, but I will persevere! General information      Banijay History. " Norman Conquest: The Real Impact - Britain's Most Historic Towns ." YouTube . Posted October 2, 2024.     Cambrian Chronicles . " The Prince of Wales: What Everybody Gets Wrong ." YouTube . Posted October 17, 2022.     National Museum of Ireland. " Viking Ireland 4 What was Daily Life like in Viking Ireland? " YouTube . Posted November 16, 2020.     SCC Archaeology. " Anglo-Saxon Daily Life ." YouTube . Posted August 16, 2021.     Smarthistory. " Charlemagne and the Carolingian revival ." YouTube . Posted June 14, 2013. Arts and architecture    ...

    Here begins the second part of my notes regarding Marjorie Rowling's Everyday Life in Medieval Times ; part one is here . CH. 5 PILGRIMS & CRUSADERS pilgrimages made by Xians to Rome & Jerusalem as early as 4th c. Santiago de Compostela becomes famous in 11th c. hostels established along pilgrimage routes Germany called "Duchelond" by 15th-cent. writer firearms were discharged while crossing the Alps to trigger small avalanches before entering a narrow pass pilgrims docked in the port of Jaffa had to get "safe conduct" from the Governor of Jerusalem before they could disembark (it required some tribute) by beginning of 15th c. French was more commonly known than Latin outside of Europe guardians of the Holy Sepulchre locked in all year except Easter weekend & 13–14 Sept. (Vigil of the Holy Cross) in 1395 Venice claimed to have St. George's arm, St. Nicholas' staff, St. Paul's ear, & one of the jars from the wedding in Cana whose ...

    These are old, occasionally sarcastic notes I took while reading Rowling's book on the daily lives of normal-ish people during the Middle Ages.  It's an excellent introductory text for those wishing to learn more about normal life in the medieval period, as opposed to list of battles or major political figures.  Here is the proper citation:     Rowling, Marjorie. Everyday Life in Medieval Times . New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1968.   NB: This post is not so much a Cliff Notes as a stream-of-consciousness piece.  It should not be taken as actual scholarship, and does not necessarily reflect the author's beliefs. INTRODUCTION picture opposite title page shows a building being demolished! looks like most pics will be French, some English, rarely Italian/German prob. most pics from illustrated manuscripts, e.g. Tres Riches Heures ? acknowledgement: Waddell, Helen. The Wandering Scholars . pub. pre-1968 CH. 1 CHARLEMAGNE & SOCIETY m...

    Once again, my sources are fairly limited for this period, but I think the videos here are pretty comprehensive!  I'd love more sources for Dublin, the Kingdom of the Isles, Kievan Rus', and the Danelaw, particularly when it comes to music, poetry, and games.  Let me know if you have any! General information     Draper, Jenny. " The Collapse of the Roman Empire, or, Why were medieval people more primitive than the Romans? " YouTube . May 30, 2024.      Johnson, James. " What was Medieval Wales really like? " YouTube . August 30, 2020.      Johnson, James. " When Was The Viking Age? " YouTube . November 9, 2021. Arts and architecture      Draper, Jenny. " Why You Can't Find Vikings In London: The London History Show ." YouTube . January 18, 2021.      Johnson, James. " Viking Age Tools and the Mighty Mästermyr Tool Chest ." YouTube . August 30, 2023.      Johnson, James....

     Another in my "Young Person's Introduction to Fashion" series, this time about the Viking Age!  That's, oh, 8th to 11th centuries CE?  Not very long, all things considered, but the events have had a massive impact on Western culture.  Unfortunately, there are very few people producing entry-level articles and videos about the topic of Viking fashion, so I must apologize for using the same sources over and over. General information      Courtney. " Viking Capsule Wardrobe: Strategically Building Your Historical Closet ." YouTube . August 20, 2021.     Johnson, James. " How to Buy Viking Clothes (and What to Avoid!) ." YouTube . December 7, 2020.      Johnson, James. " Viking Women's Fashion: A (Very!) Basic Guide ." YouTube . January 5, 2021. Accessories      Johnson, James. " I Make Viking Gloves (And Play in the Snow!) ." YouTube . February 15, 2021.      Johnson, James. " REAL...

     Some day I will stop complaining about the appalling lack of scholarly material treating Welsh-language sources for Arthurian legends, but it is not this day.  In the mean time, have some reference material! Alliterative Morte Arthure      Adler, Gillian. "'Ȝit þat traytour alls tite teris lete he fall': Arthur, Mordred, and Tragedy in the Alliterative Morte Arthure ." Arthuriana , Vol. 25, No. 3 (Fall 2015), pp. 3-21.      Benson, Larry D. ed. King Arthur's Death: The Middle English Stanzaic Morte Arthur and the Alliterative Morte Arthure . Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute Publications, 1994.      Crofts, Thomas H. "Perverse and Contrary Deeds: The Giant of Mont Saint Michel and the Alliterative Morte Arthure ." In The Erotic in the Literature of Medieval Britain , edited by Amanda Hopkins and Cory James Rushton. Rochester, NY: Boydell & Brewer, 2007, pp. 116-131.      Jefferson, Judith A. an...