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The Newsletter for the Medieval History Site at About.comVol. II, No.19
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Our Latest Feature
Conquest, Part II: Three Kings and a Conqueror
They ruled nations, led armies, made history--and they all had plans for England.
Our Contest Continues
I've been delighted with the suggestions I've received for our new Chat Room Name -- so much so I'm having a difficult time choosing the best three of those I've gotten so far. Go ahead, make my job harder! Send me your intriguing suggestions. Remember, even if yours isn't chosen as a finalist, you still have a chance to win the random drawing.
And don't forget to chat with me any day this week for more chances to win!
For this week's chat schedule, visit our main
chat page.
For contest rules, visit our contest
announcement.
In the News
Anglo-Saxon dog cemetary
Recent excavations in the area believed to have been the base of operations of the Anglo-Saxon rebel Hereward have uncovered numerous canine skeletal remains. The dogs were apparently buried with great care in graves specially made for the purpose. These evident marks of affection lead historians to reevaluate views on medieval attitudes towards dogs. For more information see the article at the Times UK.
For more on Hereward the Wake, see the associated article by Alan Hamilton.
Early frescoes found
A series of paintings depicting seasonal changes and believed to date to the mid-13th century have been uncovered in a Roman church. The secular subjects and the signs of a move from the Byzantine style to a more naturalist one may shed intriguing new light on the origins of Italian Renaissance art. For more, see the article by Richard Owen at the Times UK.
Medieval Minutia
The Church struggled with corruption throughout its long history, and had special difficulties when lay authorities had the power to appoint clerics to high positions. In the eleventh century, it was not uncommon for individuals to buy offices from kings and counts. Archbishop Manasses of Reims was one such purchaser, who paid well for the office and made himself wealthy from it. "The archbishopric of Reims would be a good thing," he is known to have said, "if only one didn't have to sing Mass because of it." Manasses was later deposed by Pope Gregory VII.
Sources: Medieval Europe: A Short History by C.
Warren Hollister
The Catholic
Encyclopedia
For more about the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, see our Religion net links.
Site Update
Directory Reorganization
The net link pages below are now accessible through our Notable Individuals index:
New Net Link Page
- Bede
- Biographies, online works, and various sites of interest concerning the early British historian and saint.
You can find Bede in our Notable Individuals index.
New Net Links
Links have been added to the following Net Link pages:
- Arts & Literature
- Drama
- Medieval English Drama Bibliography
- Arthurian Studies
- Arthur's Britain Bibliography (also added to Historical Arthur)
- Book, Manuscript and Printing History
- Book of Hours
- Castles
- Castles: General
- Castles Bibliography
- The Kids' Castle
- Medieval Britain
- Dark-Age Britain
- Anglo-Saxon History: A Select Bibliography
- Medieval Ireland
- The Case for the 'Celtic' Church: Further Considerations
- (also added to General Christianity)
- Medieval Europe
- Medieval Europe: General
- Historical Atlas (also added to Maps)
- Iberia
- Science in Al-Andalus (also added to Science & Technology)
- Military History
- The Crusades
- Crusades Bibliography
- Religion in the Middle Ages
- General Christianity
- The Ecole Initiative (return)
Medieval History Mini-Quiz
How familiar are you with early Europe? Test your knowledge in our quiz.
New at our Bookstore: Reader Reviews
Now you can share your opinions of the books your Guide has reviewed. Visit our Borders.com bookstore and click "Your Guide's Review" under the description to see what I have to say. Agree? Disagree? Click "Write Your Own Review" and tell us about it!
Your review will then be posted at the site, and other visitors can access it by clicking "About.com Reader Reviews."
That Time of Year
As historians well know, there's no stopping the march of time. And our calendar is inexorably moving toward that dreaded date...
No, I don't mean Y2K. Rather, the holiday season will soon be upon us! If you're one of those really smart people who don't wait 'til the last minute to do your gift shopping (or if, like your Guide, you'd like to be), now is the time to check out these features:
- Medieval Gifts Online
- Sites that sell antiquities and reproductions are highlighted here.
- Medieval Gift Ideas
- Project ideas to try and books to buy.
Elsewhere at About.com
Planning a trip to all those marvelous historical places you've encountered in medieval studies? Start with About.com's Europe for Visitors site. Guide Durant Imboden has great advice for everything from packing and currency to accomodations, festivals, even living in Europe! And if Venice is your destination, don't miss his extensive subsite on this fascinating city.
Quote of the Knight
All rising to great places is by a winding stair.
Francis Bacon
Quote of the KnightAll rising to great places is by a winding stair. Francis Bacon |
I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Knightly Newsletter. Thanks for visiting the Medieval History site, and see you in chat!
Melissa Snell
Your Medieval History Guide at About.com
The Knightly Newsletter is copyrighted © 1999 by Melissa Snell and About.com. All graphics used on this page were created by your guide.
Check out issue II.18 of the Knightly
Newsletter.
Visit our index of previous issues.
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