55 Answered Questions for the topic Middle Ages

Middle Ages Geography Britain

04/22/19

Are there any ideas as to what the English landscape was like before the arrival of the Angles?
I am not sure if this question is within the guidelines (it may be), but I am curious as to this: In North America, for instance, it is often said it was heavily forested and that a squirrel could... more
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04/21/19

Where does the name of the country "Belarus" come from?
I've read the German and English Wikipedia on this topic as well as the translated Belarussian version and some sites I googled. They all seem to argue that the 'Rus' part stems from the Region... more
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Middle Ages European History Europe

04/21/19

Raising children in Europe in the Middle Ages?
This question might be a little broad, but I would like to know about child rearing practices in Mediaeval Europe. To narrow this down, the time and place that I am *particularly* interested in are... more
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04/20/19

What was the cultural background of Burgundians?
In the Middle Ages there was a big country in Europe between France and German kingdoms, Burgundy. What language did they speak there? Were they more German or French in origin?
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04/14/19

What were the acceptance criteria in universities of medieval Europe?
Did they have entrance tests? Were certain groups officially banned from entering? How much did one have to pay? Did they have scholarships for talented studends? How these criteria differed... more
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04/13/19

How long would the average sword last in the middle ages?
Assuming normal wear and tear, how long before a knight had to replace his sword?
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04/13/19

What were shoe soles made from in previous ages?
Today, nearly all commercial footwear has a sole made of either rubber or plastic with rubber-like qualities. It's a great material for the job, but it comes from a tree that's native to the... more
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Middle Ages Geography Fun Ships

04/12/19

Was America discovered before Columbus arrived?
It is so wonderful to imagine how much adventure has been had in this world!
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Middle Ages European History Europe

04/11/19

Did Charlemagne save Latin literature?
Kenneth Clark states his opinion in *Civilisation* that nearly all Latin literature still extant today was saved thanks to Charlemagne, who instructed his kingdom's copyists to work on... more
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04/07/19

How was the current month and day disseminated to the townspeople of Medieval Europe?
How was the current month and day disseminated to the townspeople of the Medieval Europe? I'm quite sure that personal calendars weren't a thing back then... but I could be wrong... If they had a... more
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04/05/19

During feudalism in Europe, was one's allegiance to the lord more or less important than the allegiance to the king?
So, let's say your feudal overlord is rebelling against the king. Who do you owe your allegiance to, the lord, or the king? It's best to fight for the one who's going to win, obviously, but what... more
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04/05/19

Why was there a tradition attached to Crossbowmen?
Medieval literature makes several references to Gascon, Flemish and especially Genoese to denote elite troops wielding Crossbows. However, it isn't exactly hard to shoot a Crossbow accurately and... more
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04/04/19

How close were the living standards of India compared to England during the medieval period?
India, China and the African continent today are mostly associated with poverty in Europe, the US and so on. Looking at India specifically, did it during the medieval era share a similar standard... more
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04/04/19

What did European people of the 5th century AD eat during spring and what was the availability?
It is commonly believed that winter during that age was a period of starvation, with very limited means of procuring food. If the above is true, what did the commoners (peasants, serfs, etc) had... more
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04/04/19

Why anthropocentrism disappears in art during the Dark Ages?
The human being ceases to be central part of Art in Europe with the arrival of the Dark Ages, only to return with the Renaissance.What are some factors that explain that?
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04/04/19

Did Charlemagne's Christian conquest of Germany cause the Vikings to hit back at Britain?
A [documentary on The Dark Ages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Ages:_An_Age_of_Light) says that Vikings invaded the British isles after Charlemagne of France conquered some of Germany and... more
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04/03/19

In medieval Europe, were children born in an annulled marriage automatically illegitimate?
I know that under modern laws (even within the Catholic Church), children born in a marriage that is later annulled are still considered legitimate, because they were born of a putative marriage.... more
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Middle Ages European History Europe

03/27/19

Did any European monarch execute their sister or other direct female relative?
In my search, I found examples of kings/queens having their wives and brothers executed, but I cannot seem to locate any example for sisters, mothers, and fathers.
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03/27/19

Who was Balavignus?
I was reading up on some history on the Black Death and came across the name "Balavignus". He was a Jewish doctor who urged people to apply hygienic measures, based on some biblical verses in... more
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03/27/19

What is known about the possibility of a "real King Arthur"?
I once saw a documentary that discussed a discovered possible "round table" but wondered how "pie in the sky" this possibility was as well as just how much/how little evidence is there for any... more
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Middle Ages European History Europe

03/27/19

Why did the Merovingians and Pippinids adopt Christianity so fervently?
The Western Church was generally in decline from, say, 400 to 700 AD. Yet, Clovis converted, and more to the point, so did many other dukes. In the end, the Pippinids conducted various wars with... more
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03/27/19

How would prospective members join a medieval European guild?
On related lines, 1) How would a young person (young man) have selected a master with whom to apprentice? How did the matching up process work? 2) What motivated a master/practitioner to take on... more
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03/26/19

What did squires do in the middle of a medieval battle?
According to [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squire#Jobs), a normal squire daily job included: > - Carrying the knight's armour, shield, sword, > - Holding any prisoners the knight... more
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Middle Ages World History War Islam

03/19/19

What was the status of Arab Christians during the crusades?
Did Arab Christians take an active role in the crusades in the Holy Land or at any point on their trip to the Holy Land. Or were they victims of the crusaders? Did the crusaders typically... more
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03/19/19

Did the Pope's crossbow and archery bans have any effect?
One of the more famous and certainly curious decisions at the [Second Council of the Lateran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Council_of_the_Lateran) in 1139 was a ban on using missile troops... more
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