Research on Medieval Life

zornhau · Feb 14, 2007

Simon Woodhouse said:
When I needed to do a bit of medieval research, I went to the children's section in the local bookshop. I bought one of those books that shows everything as a cut-away diagram, you know the sort of thing – a castle with one wall removed so you can see inside. I found this really useful. It was full of helpful little snippets of info, as well as being very visual.

Yes, but it's always the same ##### castle with 4-towered square keep and inner and outer wards, isn't it? Strangely, there aren't a lot of those about, and when they do exist, they usually have an odd shape due to the builders exploiting the ground.

There's also a big distinction between castles thrown up to a grand plan in one semi-continous building campaign, e.g. Carnarvon, and more intimate castles bodged together organically over several generations, e.g. Direlton.

LeslieB · Feb 14, 2007

C.bronco said:
Tidbits: They had open sewers. No one used forks- just spoons and knives. People commonly used cloves for fresh(er) breath. Ah, the memories...

Of course, nothing says that things have to be that way in our stories. After all, this is the SF/F forum, so medieval information serves as a jumping off point rather than a set of rules. But I have been doing the same sort of research, and just added some books to my 'must read' list. Thanks, everyone!

Higgins · Feb 14, 2007

Context and flavor

SlowRain said:
Don't worry if the book or website you like has already been listed. If you mention it again, that will give it more weight when I come to choose. I'm not only looking for suggestions, I'm also wondering which ones are the best and most comprehensive. All comments and opinions are welcome.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

This is a sort of paradoxical recommendation: the not-too-general overview. Such as:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0631189459/?tag=absolutewrite-21

Higgins · Feb 14, 2007

Little Missensden is missing

zornhau said:
Yes, but it's always the same ##### castle with 4-towered square keep and inner and outer wards, isn't it? Strangely, there aren't a lot of those about, and when they do exist, they usually have an odd shape due to the builders exploiting the ground.

There's also a big distinction between castles thrown up to a grand plan in one semi-continous building campaign, e.g. Carnarvon, and more intimate castles bodged together organically over several generations, e.g. Direlton.

Loved the castle index. But what is up with how little missenden is missing?

http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_midlands/165/missendencastlepicture2.htm

And here at Leppington, assaulting (unattested*) Proto-Indo-europeans were held off by a muddy road and the thought of future barbed wire:

http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/100/leppington1.htm

Deleted member 42 · Feb 14, 2007

batgirl said:
And the laws about how to wear those big shoulder brooches so no one was stabbed while embracing.
-Barbara

Ah yes, those were the days . . . good times, good times.

zornhau · Feb 14, 2007

Sokal said:
Loved the castle index. But what is up with how little missenden is missing?

http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_midlands/165/missendencastlepicture2.htm

And here at Leppington, assaulting (unattested*) Proto-Indo-europeans were held off by a muddy road and the thought of future barbed wire:

http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_north/100/leppington1.htm

Found the index via google, so take no responsibility for it. In truth, what really matters is that some general books, esp. those for children, generalise until all texture is lost. There's no subsitute for looking at real castles.

badducky · Feb 14, 2007

Also, appreciating medieval cities is difficult until one actually walks among them. a.k.a. what i'm doing right now!

Even relatively recent towns such as Erbenheim is an exercise in the otherworldly. The street design is so organic, and the buildings are so strange, yet familiar. They have dining rooms and bathrooms and all that, but no architect in your suburban city would think to make them just so.

Building materials create a fundamental difference in historical housing that must be seen to truly verstehen.

Higgins · Feb 14, 2007

The thing about the past

zornhau said:
Found the index via google, so take no responsibility for it. In truth, what really matters is that some general books, esp. those for children, generalise until all texture is lost. There's no subsitute for looking at real castles.

The past is even more diverse than the present, but much harder to observe very well.

In the castle index, I found the locations that are now just lumps in the field to be the most interesting in some ways. I'm glad the index includes sites where you just see grassy features in the countryside.

batgirl · Feb 14, 2007

Bod iam is the best castle ever. You can keep War wick, even if it does show the whole evolution from motte and bailey onwards.
And Bayleaf is the best timber frame house ever. Although the Merchant Adventurer's Hall in York is pretty cool.
Medieval London was fairly small. We walked the City from one side to the other in a few hours. The walking tour from the MoL isn't very long either, but well worth doing.
-Barbara

Evaine · Feb 19, 2007

Another thing that was different about medieval cities was the sheer volume of churches! I used to live in Norwich, and there were over 40 medieval flint churches packed into the city, including the home of Julian of Norwich, of course, the first woman to write a book in English - and she wasn't the only anchoress in the city. There were several, both male and female, attached to different churches.
Now, many of those churches have different uses, as antique centres, arts centres, and even a gym.

M. K. McWilliams · Feb 26, 2007

Holy cow what a broad spectrum! Well two people beat me too it. The SCA site as well as those kids books about Castle Life and all that. Really cool.
You want medieval history I'd be glad to share. Not only am I in the SCA I do heraldry. I have lots of medieval history research but I can't dig into all of it right this moment, feel free to send me a private message, I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

In the meantime think of SPECIFIC questions rather than "What was medieval life like?" It was hard, it was cruel and it was cold. There's the answer for that. Want to know the Knight's Code? It varies from country to country. Everyone had a different sense of honor and chivalry but it was there. Why were Templar Knights executed? What were Hospitlar Nuns? Who were the first pirates? Ooooh the questions, the answers... I can hear the drums of war now and smell the fires. Yummy.

Mel

Irysangel · Feb 27, 2007

Kind of an odd question, but I'm setting my next novel in the court of Edward III.

Now here's the thing. I originally wanted to focus on a character that's one of a set of triplets (the mother died at birth). Problem is, I can't find any records of multiple births in medieval times. Is this believable? Not believable?

Thanks!

Deleted member 42 · Feb 27, 2007

They did in fact happen, but the children rarely survived; moms would breastfeed, and the lower class women sometimes just couldn't, because of their own poor nutrition, keep the babies fed. There are references to multiple births . .. they weren't generally seen a good things.

Irysangel · Feb 27, 2007

Good point. It did seem fairly far-fetched for all three to be adult and healthy. I'll stick with the safer alternative (I.E. siblings).

Thank you!

SlowRain · Mar 3, 2007

Thanks to everyone who posted a reply. I wasn't looking for anything specific, I just wanted a good, well-rounded starting place. I don't have a great selection of English books here, but I did pick up Life in a Medieval City, Life in a Medieval Castle, and Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel, all by Frances & Joseph Gies.

Once again, thanks to everyone, and, by all means, keep the recommendations coming. I think everyone has benefitted from these suggestions.

waylander · Sep 27, 2009

A new book that looks well worth reading for anyone writing fantasy in a medieval style world - "The Time Travellers Guide to Medieval England"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1845950992/?tag=absolutewrite-21

Fenika · Sep 27, 2009

Oh, awesome. Cheers for that

Smiling Ted · Sep 27, 2009

C.bronco said:
Tidbits: They had open sewers. No one used forks- just spoons and knives. People commonly used cloves for fresh(er) breath. Ah, the memories...

Forks reappeared in Byzantium in the 10th Century, IIRC, and Italy in the 11th.

mscelina · Sep 27, 2009

Medievalist said:
How many Medievalist?

We are legion.

Oh my. That's a bit too Lorraine Warren for me, Medi.

And yes--by all means, don't forget the Eastern Roman Empire inthe early medieval period. Look to Byzantium for innovation and Rome for conventions.

t.c.laing · Sep 27, 2009

Definitely try the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) it's a non-profit educational corp. We not only research the middle ages, but recreate them; just like US Revolutionary War, Civil War reenactors and Renn Faire people.

Here is a link to one of the subgroups (the SCA is divided into Kingdoms) that includes Japan and the Pacific Rim. Not sure exactly where Taiwan would fall in this grouping. Members are usually more than willing to help you with research sources. They may even be able to point you to someone who may be researching the specific time/place you are interested in or can point you to other local resources. Armor and weapons are typically part of every group - you can get a hands on perspective too.

http://www.westkingdom.org/wk_marchesmain.htm

And here is a link to a medieval names archive

http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/

Research on Medieval Life

zornhau

Swordsman

LeslieB

Geek Unique

Higgins

Higgins

Deleted member 42

zornhau

Swordsman

badducky

No Time For Chitchat, Kemosabe.

Higgins

batgirl

Writting broad

Evaine

M. K. McWilliams

Irysangel

She of Many Names

Deleted member 42

Irysangel

She of Many Names

SlowRain

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Fenika

Smiling Ted

Ah-HA!

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

t.c.laing