The Knightly Newsletter

Medieval History

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The Newsletter for the Medieval History Site at About.com

Vol. V, No. 5
August 8, 2002

•The Medi-what Era?
•Vinland Map
•Battles, Battles, Battles!

The Knightly Newsletter

The Medi-what Era?

Defining the Middle Ages

When did the Middle Ages start and end? This deceptively simple question has no simple answer. Here is your Guide's introduction to some of the ways the medieval era can be defined.

In the News

Vinland Map
Is it real or a fake? The "Vinland Map," which surfaced in Europe in the 1950s, might be the first cartographic representation of North America -- if it truly dates to the mid-fifteenth century. But scientists are still at odds over its authenticity. While the parchment dates to approximately 1434, traces of titanium in the ink lead some to believe the map wasn't drawn until the 20th century.

For more on this debate, see:

Scientists Determine Age of New World Map
at Brookhaven National Laboratory
The Vinland Map shows its true colors
by Jason Gorss at EurekAlert

American map of 1434 is a modern fake, scientists claim
by David Usborne at the Independent

Viking Map Debate: Real Or Fake?
API feature at CBS News

Vinland map debunked as 1920s fake
by Roger Highfield at the Daily Telegraph UK

Columbus map still a puzzle
at Ananova

Regardless of the map's authenticity, archaeological evidence is strong for the arrival of Scandinavians, led by Leif Ericsson, in North America in the early 11th century. This is nearly 500 years before Columbus bumped into the Bahamas and, ultimately, opened the Americas to an indelible European presence.

Adopt-A-Skeleton?
In an attempt to provide burials for 670 Anglo-Saxon skeletons uncovered in recent building work, a British vicar is proposing that members of his congregation "adopt" a skeleton at £10 apiece. Get the details in this item at IOL.

Medieval Medicine for Modern Times
Can a 600-year-old medical book from Wales contribute to modern treatments of disease? Find out more in this piece by John Whitfield at nature.com.

Ancient Chessman
Archaeologists have uncovered what may be Europe's oldest chess piece in Albania. The piece dates to the sixth century, at least 500 years earlier than chess was believed to have appeared in the west. Learn more in this article at BBC News.

Bulgar Garrison Found
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a military garrison in the Alekseyevsky district of Tatarstan. Find out more in this snippet from Pravda.

UNESCO Adds St. Catherine's
The monastery of St. Catherine's, constructed by the emperor Justinian in 530, has been added to UNESCO's list of protected historical sites. For more information, visit the in-depth feature by Jill Kamil at Al-Ahram.

Elizabeth's Ring
The ring Queen Elizabeth I wore until the day she died will go on display for the first time since her death next year at Britain's National Maritime Museum. The ring, which enclosed a secret portrait of her mother, Anne Boleyn, provides valuable insight into the queen and her reign. Find out more in this article by Maev Kennedy at the Guardian.

Arabic Atlas
It may be the missing link between late antique and medieval cartography. The Book of Strange Arts and Visual Delights, never seen in public before, has been acquired by the Bodleian Library in Oxford. Get the fascinating details of this significant window to medieval concepts of the world in the piece by Hannah Hennessy at the Times UK.

Camelot??
It doesn't seem to matter that the existence of a historical King Arthur has yet to be proved. Steven Spielberg is considering making a miniseries about the legendary king and his court, and now British Members of Parliament are vying to confirm their own constituencies as the home of the true King Arthur. Get some of the claims in this Reuters item at Yahoo! News.

This Week in Medieval History

From the 10th to the 15th of August, the Battle of Maldon, the Battle of Dupplin Moor, the Battle of the Vorskla River, the Battle of Aljubarrot and the Battle of Roncesvalles all took place.

What happened today?

In Search of the Real King Arthur

Many and various tales of Arthur have continued to arise throughout history. Bob Brooke offers a survey of Arthurian facts and tidbits, focusing largely on British sites associated with the legend, in this British Heritage article now online at the Medieval History site.

The Saxon Advent

This easily digested article by Geoffrey Ashe provides a basic overview of what we do and don't know about the historical Arthur. A British Heritage magazine article, now online at the Medieval History site.

Site Update

Fresh Links
New links can be found in these Subject pages:

Castles in Scotland

The First Crusade

General Medieval Scottish History

Later Crusades

Plague & Disease

Topics in British History

Viking Ships

and in these Who's Who pages:: Kublai Khan; Henry VII

Elsewhere at About.com

A Big Book for the Little Corporal
Napoleon knew well that he was making history, and he confounded future historians by rewriting his own legend. But the truth is there, and Frank McLynn presents it in a new biography. Is it worth reading? Find out in this excellent review by About's Guide to European History, Robert Wilde.

Women and Weaving
Through the ages the craft of weaving has traditionally been the province of women. About Women's History Guide Jone Johnson Lewis has an in-depth feature on this essential art and the formidable women who practiced it.

Quote of the Knight

This heavenly city, then, while it sojourns on earth, calls citizens out of all nations, and gathers together a society of pilgrims of all languages, not scrupling about diversities in manners, laws, and institutions whereby earthly peace is secured and maintained, but recognizing that, however various these are, they all tend to one and the same end of earthly peace.