Wendy Quest

Research - Ancient Rome - The Origins of New Years Day and Resolutions

2012-01-05T13:37:00.002-06:00

Ancient Babylonians are credited with the earliest celebrations of "new year" with a religious festival called Akitu (meaning barley) in late March.

It made sense that "New Years" was celebrated when Spring brought in good weather and initiated the cycle of planting/harvesting new crops. Some countries celebrated specific annual events (like the Egyptian Nile flooding) and/or astrological events (such as the Chinese honoring the second new moon after winter solstice).

Ancient Romans continued to celebrate spring or March (The Festival of Calends) as the new year until they added to their Julian Calendar the month of "January", named after the god Janus. Janus, the god of doors or beginnings, had two heads - to look backwards (on the past) and to look forward (on the future). As a side note, the original Roman calendar only had 10 months and it was frequently altered by new rulers.

Even before the Gregorian calendar was adopted, which replaced the older Julian calendar, most people were celebrating New Years Day on January 1st. A few countries/areas continued to celebrate "new year" in Spring (with the Feast of Annunciation) until the Gregorian calendar was officially adopted in 1752. Some countries celebrated new year after summer. One such celebration is called Samhain or Summer's End.

People celebrated New Year (regardless of the calendar used or the actual date) with sweets, gift exchanges, and feasts. In Rome, a festival was held that lasted three days and even allowed slaves to participate. Typically, slaves had their own holiday/celebration days separate from the citizens, but this was one of the times of the year where they celebrated together regardless of citizenship. It was a time to renew friendships and put aside past transgressions. Gifts were given to the emperor (more lavish gifts than normally bestowed) in return for favors. This practice also became popular in other countries, such as Persia.

In 487 AD, New Year's Day was declared the Feast of the Circumcision, the eighth day after Christ was born, a solemn Christian holiday that disallowed parties or heathenist celebrations. Over time, however, festivities returned, especially in the middle ages.

The act of making New Year resolutions is believed to have started when ancient Babylonias promised to return borrowed tools to their rightful owners. English people cleaned their chimneys on New Years day, which eventually morphed into the idea of "cleaning the slate", the act of resolving to start afresh in the new year.

References:

Wikipedia - New Years Day

History.com - New Years

The Traditions of New Year

Research - Ancient Rome - Maps of Roman Roads

2011-12-16T14:08:00.000-06:00

Roman soldiers built roads during periods of downtime, albeit sophisticated roads, many of which still exist today. So, I pulled out several wonderful maps that illustrate the extent of the work they performed:

Paradox Place has a wonderful map of the Roman Roads throughout Italy.

Spain: Then and Now has a wonderful map of the Roman Roads in Spain:

HistoryLink102 has a great map of the roads around Rome itself:

Dl.Ket.Org has a basic map that shows the networks of roads (without much detail) throughout the entire empire.

Research - Ancient Rome - Roman Timeline 753 BC - 100 BC

2011-11-23T13:37:00.001-06:00

I am knee-deep in some good Roman research but wanted to share a high-level timeline of some major/important events which will put future articles into perspective.

753 BC: The official founding of Roma (Rome) by mythical Romulus
600 BC: The Forum is built
578 BC: The first sewer, Cloaca Maxima, is built
510/509 BC: Etruscan kings ruled Rome until Romans revolted; Tarquinius I was first Etruscan king of Rome. The last Etruscan king was Tarquinius Superbus. Rome establishes a Republic headed by two praetors (later, Consuls) elected annually.
494 BC: Class wars between plebians (land-owners) and patricians (nobles) begins
486 BC: Wars with Aequi and Volsci
482 - 474 BC: War with Veians in the city-state Veii
387 BC: Gauls/Celts sack Rome
366 BC: Lucius Sextius becomes the first plebeian elected consul. This is significant in that someone from the land-owning class has risen up to a typically patrician position, one of the highest positions in the empire.
343 BC: Rome battles the Samnites. Two years later, they conquer Campania and its capital of Capua.
326 BC: The Circus Maximus, stadium for chariot races and other entertainment, is built
312 BC: The Via Appia (also known as the Appian Way, the road system) is built
312 BC: The Aqua Apia (the aqueduct) is built
308 BC: Romans conquer the Etruscan city of Tarquinia
298 BC: Rome goes to war against the Samnites again. Three years later they defeat them at Sentium.
295 BC: Romans defeat the Gauls/Celts in northern Italy
280 BC: Coins are issued
280 BC: Rome is defeated by Pyrrhus of Epirus at Heraclea. Five years later, Romans defeat Pyrrhus and conquer most of southern Italy
272 BC: The Anio Vetus (another aqueduct) is built
264 BC: Rome fights Carthage in the first Punic war
225 BC: The Gauls invade Rome. Three years later, the Gauls are defeated.
221 BC: The Circus Flaminius (another racetrack) is built
218 BC: Hannibal invades Italy and allies with the Gauls
202 BC: Scipio defeats Hannibal and Rome annexes Spain
184 BC: The Basilica Porcia is built; it is the oldest basilica in the known world
171 BC - 167 BC: The Third Macedonian War begins when Perseus attacks Rome and ends with Rome dividing Macedonia into four republics.
154 BC: The tribes of Lusitania rebel against Rome
151 BC: Roman troops massacre Celts in Spain
149 BC: Rome attacks Carthage and three years later destroys it.
149 BC: Roma wins the battle of Corinth, conquering Greece.
146 BC: Macedonia becomes a province of Rome
144 BC: The first high-level aqueduct is built
139 BC: First Servile War begins when 4,500 slaves are crucified in Sicily and the remaining slaves revolt.
128 BC: Southern France (Aquitania) becomes a province of Rome
113 BC: Germanic tribes Cimbri and Teutones defeat the Romans and invade Gaul and Spain
111 BC: Rome declares war on Numidia and five years later, Marius and troops defeat the King of Numidia, Jugurtha.
105 BC: the Teutones and the Cimbri defeat the Romans at Arausio/Orange
104 BC: Second Servile War - Slave revolt in Sicily again

References:
Exovedate.com
Scaruffi.com
Wikipedia
WCUPA.edu
History-Timelines.org.uk
Roman-Empire.net

Research - Ancient Rome - Julius Caesar

2011-11-15T14:33:00.000-06:00

It's strange how history and Hollywood have made Caesar a hero, but when you delve into his life another picture is painted - one of aggressive politics and shocking betrayal.

Gaius Julius Caesar was born July 13, 100 BC to Gaius Julius Caesar (senior) and Aurelia, nobles or patricians.

In 84 BC, at the age of 18, he married Cornelia Cinna who bore him his only legitimate child, a girl named Julia. Cornelia died in 68 BC.

Caesar joined the army where he proved to be a personable leader, winning award after award (including the crown of leaves, the Civic Crown). Despite his victories, he lost his inheritance and had little money when he returned to Rome. He decided to get into legal advocacy, which he excelled at since he was a good orator and had a flair for drama. Trials were performed in the Forum.

In 75 BC, he was kidnapped by pirates who originally ransomed him for 20 talents, but Caesar demanded they ask for 50 (because he thought he was worth more). Once he was freed, he tracked them down and executed them.
He was elected Military Tribune in 72 BC. Four years later, he was elected Quaestor. That same year he married his enemy and former Dictator Sulla's granddaughter, Pompeia.

In 65 BC, he was elected Curule Aedile. His new title required him to spend money (mostly that he borrowed) to influence people's opinion and gain prestige. It was rumored that he was having affairs with married women of prominent men.

In 62 BC, he was elected Praetor (commander of the army or a magistrate). A year later he went to Spain to act as propraetor (governor). One more year, Caesar returned to Rome and became part of a triumverate of power with Crassus and Pompey. Crassus had emassed his fortune by buying properties for rock-bottom prices after they were destroyed in fires. He helped finance Caesar's political career.

In 59 BC, Caesar was elected Consul despite heavy opposition. He arranged a marriage of his only daughter Julia to his partner Pompey and then married Calpurnia (who was the daughter of a leading member in the Popular faction). When his consulship ended, he finagled himself a five-year proconsulship of Gaul where he lived and fought in military campaigns for 9 years.

Crassus died in 53 BC, leaving Caesar and Pompey in a tense predictament of power-hunger. Pompey convinced the Senate to charge Caesar with crimes against the Senate, preventing Caesar from being able to return to Rome as a private citizen (and risk legal action). Instead, Caesar led his army against Italy in a Civil War. Pompey fled to the east while Caesar met his army in Spain. By 48 BC, Pompey gathered a large army of troops in Greece and faced Caesar again. But, the tide turned against Pompey despite a series of mishaps, and finally he fled to Egypt.

The Egyptians, however, betrayed Pompey and presented his head to Caesar when he landed in Alexandria. It was here he met Cleopatra and helped her regain her throne from Ptolemy XIII. She reportedly bore a son by him named Caesarion. The next year they joined Caesar in Rome.

In 47 BC, Caesar left Alexandria and pursued King Pharnaces whom he overcame - thus giving life to the famous slogan "Veni, Vidi, Vici" ("I came, I saw, I overcame").

Caesar was declared Dictator Perpetuus (Dictator for perpetuity) in 44 BC. Despite warnings of potential danger, Caesar refused to use a bodyguard. In the Curia, a theatre built by Pompey, Caesar attended his last Senate meeting before a group of senators (led by Marcus Junius Brutus) murdered him - on March 15th, the Ides of March. He was 55 years old.

References:

Wikipedia

Livius.org

BBC

VRoma.org

Julius Caesar by Philip Freeman:

When Rome Ruled:

Shakespeare's Julius Caesar:

Picture Credits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar

Other Materials:

Research - Ancient Rome - Emperor Constantine

2011-10-26T10:01:00.000-05:00

The leaders of Rome faced many trials and deceptions especially as the empire grew larger and more power and the rise of Emperor Constantine was no exception.

Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus, or Constantine, was born on February 27th 272 AD to Constantius Chlorus (an important military figure in Diocletian's army) and mother Helena (a Greek).

As a child he lived in the emperor Diocletian's household along with the other co-emperors' children. Life in the household was strict and emphasis was placed on citizenship. Diocletian persecuted Christians and forced the people to worship his Pagan gods; those who did not make sacrifices for the gods were put to death. In 303 AD, the "Great Persecution" took place where all known Christians were put to death, usually with a fake trial and public execution.

When Diocletian falls ill, Constantine finds himself shut out of the royal inheritance and returns to his father's side in Gaul. Together, they fight the Picts (in present-day Scotland), but Constantius falls ill and dies. Constantine takes over leadership of the troops and they continue to battle barbarians.

Maxentius, one of Diocletian's co-emperors, siezes power of Rome but becomes power-hungry and murders another co-emperor. He begins to choke the people of Rome and they eventually revolt.

Constantine takes advantage of the situation and arranges a partnership with a leader of the eastern territories, Licinious, and promises to split the empire with him if they get rid of Maxentius. As a guarantee of their partnership, Constantine arranges a marriage with his half-sister, Constantia, to Licinious.

They scare off the tyrant and divide the empire (east and west). But Maxentius is not ready to disappear completely and a battle between the three ensues eventually ending at the Milvian Bridge where Maxentius drowns.

Together, Constantine and Licinious issued the Edict of Milan in 313 which proclaimed religious tolerance throughout the empire. This is the first time in Roman hisotry that the faith of the people is shared with the emperor. In 337 AD, Constantine is officially baptized.

Now, Licinious begins to feel hunger for more power (as most co-emperors do) and the two battle. Finally, after a long campaign, Licinious is imprisoned in Nicomedia, punished, exiled, and finally executed. The empire is now united. Constantine makes the new capital Constantinople.

Constantine also makes his heir, Crispus (son of his first wife), junior emperor of the west, much to the irritation of his new wife, Fausta (because she wants her own sons to be emperors). So Fausta tricks Constantine into thinking his son has sinned against him and exiles him (to be executed). When he learns she has tricked him, Constantine has her executed but, sadly, is too late to save his son.

He continues to pursue his newfound religion and builds many churches and the infamous Basilica of St Peter.

Constantine died May 22, 337 AD in Nicomedia.

Resources:

Wikipedia

Roman-Empire.net

Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire:

Picture Credits:
http://taswestern-studies.wikispaces.com/The+reason+of+Emperor+Constantine+becoming+a+Christian+and+it%E2%80%99s+consequences.

Research - Ancient Rome - The Baths of Caracalla

2011-10-18T09:45:00.000-05:00

One of the largest and most lavish baths in roman history was the Baths of Caracalla (also known as Thermae Antoninianae) dedicated in 216 AD by Emperor Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus (nicknamed Caracalla) (the older son of Emperor Septimus). Caracalla was assinated in 217 AD (at the young age of 29).

The baths fell out of use in the 6th century when the aqueduct was destroyed during a Gothic invasion of Rome.

The exact numbers of laborers varies, but it is estimated that around 13,000 prisoners of war were used to prepare and level the building site (which was upon a hill). An estimated 6,000 tradesmen performed the majority of the construction, while 600 specialty workers (marble workers) created the ornamentation and statues.

Wikipedia has a great listing of the estimated amounts of stones used, many of which were imported:
Pozzolanna: 341,000 m³
Quick lime: 35,000 m³
Tuff: 341,000 m³
Basalt for foundations: 150,000 m³
Brick pieces for facing: 17.5 million
Large Bricks: 520,000
Marble columns in Central block: 252
Marble for columns and decorations: 6,300 m³

The floors were covered with mosaics - some black and white and others brightly colored from imported stones (yellow, green, purple, grey, pink).

There were also marble statues throughout the bath - such as these two. The first is the Farnese Hercules and the second is the Farnese Bull (portraying the binding of Dirce to a mad bull). One statue of Asclepius was over 4 meters tall.

1600 people could visit the bath at a time. As you can imagine, the baths must have been very noisy. There are written accounts of visitors complaining about the deafening level of noises.

Bathing and going to the bathroom were open and public - people did not feel the same modesty that we do today. Toilets were out in the open. Waste was carried out of the latrines through a channel of water that led to a sewer system.

People could exercise in the open courtyards (palaestra) - clothed or nude. The areas measured 1,076 x 1,315 ft (328X400m). Men typically lifted weights, wrestled, or played hand ball while women tended to swim in the large outdoor pools (called natatio) or play Trochus (a game where the player would roll a metal hoop with a stick).

Visitors could change their clothes in the Apodyterium (changing/dressing room). They kept their items in little cubbies or cubicles that had no locks. A capsarius, a slave attending the cubicles, could watch the belongings for a fee. The wealthy brought their own slaves to watch their stuff, carry their bath supplies, etc.

After working up a sweat, the visitor would then head to the tepidarium (warm water bath) before going to the caldarium (hot water bath) and then finally the frigidarium (cold water bath).

The caldarium measured 115 ft wide (35 meters) and topped with a dome. The waters were heated by an underground furnace in a system called a hypocaust. The hot steam would move through the floor and between the walls, escaping out hollowed-out spaces. It was stoked with wood by slaves. The heated pool was about 3 feet deep. A slave might pour cool water over the visitor in a dish called a patara to keep them from overheating.

The frigidarium measured 183 ft x 79 ft (55.7 meters x 24 meters).

Bathers didn't use soap but were anointed with oil and had their dirt scraped off with metal tools (a process called strigiling). Seems gross now, but back then they enjoyed it. There are some cultures today that use scraping as a form of therapy for illnesses, leaving a person's torso or back red with scratches before applying stinging "healing" ointment.

In addition to scraping off dirt, the workers would pluck hair off the visitor's body since hairless bodies were en vogue. Sounds painful. They could also get massages.

There were other forms of entertainment available. Two libraries, one of Latin writings and one of Greek writings, were available as well as a theatre for poetry reading or plays. There were also shops, restaurants or cafes, an athletic track, gardens, salons, museums and music rooms.

Interestingly, people during this period thought going to the baths made them healthier, but quite the opposite was true. People who were ill shared the same bath water, so diseases such as tuberculosis, bowel issues, lice, typhus, and even malaria were spread here. In the second century, Emperor Hadrian imposed specific hours for bathers with illnesses (which probably really didn't matter since the diseases could live in the warm waters for long periods of time - ewww!)

References:

PBS - Interactive Tour

Livius.org

A View on Cities

Wikipedia - Baths of Caracalla

Wikipedia - Caracalla

Italy Guides

Rome.info

Every day life in Ancient Rome:

Ancient Mysteries - Incredible Monuments of Rome:

When Rome Ruled:

Photo credits:

MrJennings - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjennings/120267581/
http://www.shafe.co.uk/art/Rome-_Baths_of_Caracalla_(plan).asp
http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Arts/HerculesFarnese.htm
http://www.livius.org/ro-rz/rome/rome_baths_caracalla1.html
http://www.utexas.edu/courses/romanciv/Romancivimages23/day23captions.htm
http://www.roma-gallery.com/

Research - Ancient Rome - Quick History of Rome

2011-10-11T10:07:00.000-05:00

Perhaps this should have been the first topic, but it seems to fit well after a small taste of Roman culture - the gladiators and the infamous Colosseum.

Legend says that Rome was named after the god Romulus who killed his twin brother, Remus, both orphaned and raised by a wolf mother. The spot on the hill where they were raised by the she-wolf became the founding point of the city.

Rome was founded on Palatine Hill (8th century BC) amid a wet, swampy area that was rife with malaria. How ironic, that from such humble beginnings, Rome grew into the most powerful civilization in the ancient world. Palantine Hill also became the favorite spot for emperors to live.

600 BC, construction of the permanent city began; channels of open drains were cut to remove the excess water and were later covered.

Around 500 BC, the infamous Roman Republic was formed.

27 BC - Rome's first emperor, Augustus, gains power, starting the "golden age". He reportedly said he found Rome a city of bricks and turned it into a city of marble, which he certainly tried with all his building projects.

The empire stretched over 2 million square miles.

There were several reasons why Roman influence was able to spread so quickly.

First, the Roman army was well-organized, disciplined and modernized. The technique of forming lines of shields to fight helped them conquer unorganized "barbarians". That's not to say Roman armies won all the battles they fought but they won enough to become powerful.

Second, the appeal of Roman culture led many to surrender in exchange for a taste of the finer things - such as wine and olive oil. This is why there are Roman baths throughout England.

Third, Rome was very willing to give citizenship. Citizenship had its priviledges, which appealed to "barbarians" who otherwise had no rights in their own countries.

Around the First Century AD, Rome had over a million people - possibly one of the most populus cities in the world at this time.

By the Second Century AD, there were over 60 million people living in the Roman Empire, making it one of the greatest in the western world.

To compare, today there is about 2.8 million people living in Rome.

At its height, Rome was the richest city on Earth. Most of their wealth came from conquering and plundering villages or from taxes they collected from their conquered barbarians.

In 476 AD, the last emperor was overthrown, chaos ensued and Rome fell apart. The population dropped from over a million to about 100,000 and without proper maintenance, the aqueducts dried up and buildings fell into disrepair.

We'll talk about the emperors in more detail later...

References:

Official Site of Rome

Wikipedia - History of Rome

History Learning Site

Notes:
Map courtesy of Wikipedia

Research - Ancient Rome - The Colosseum

2011-09-28T14:39:00.000-05:00

The Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire. It was a true marvel at the time - the newest, greatest thing. Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, after emperor Vespasian's family, and later, in the middle ages, it became Coliseum.

It wasn't the oldest - the honor for the oldest stone amphitheatre went to one built in Pompeii around 69 AD.

But it was the largest in classical history.

According to Colosseum.net - the measurements are as follows: 615 ft long by 510 ft wide with a base of 6 acres. The height of the outer wall was 157 ft. The central arena was 287 ft long by 180 ft wide.

For some comparison, a modern-day regulation NFL arena has the following dimensions: 120 yards long (360 ft) x 150 yards wide (450 ft).

After years of oppression under Emperor Nero's rule, the new Emperor Vespasian began to regain the people's confidence and approval with public building projects. One of his goals was to remove the reminders of the previous ruler. Construction of the Colosseum began around 72 AD on top of Nero's former palacial lake. It has been suggested the name Colosseum was from the colossal statue of Nero standing in front.

80 AD - The grand-opening or inaugural games lasted 100 days; over 5000 animals were killed. Exotic animals were brought to Rome from North African. However, since there were no zoologist or techniques to keep the exotic animals alive, many animals died even before the shows took place.

The last games were held in the 6th century AD.

The current colosseum is badly damaged and basically a shell of its former self. There have been fires, earthquakes, and people stealing materials (stones, bronze, etc) that have inflicted damage over time.

At the time, the building implemented a new technique in construction -

The invention of a type of cement allowed buildings to be built higher and higher. As buildings get taller, however, they get heavier and lean or crumble the bottom layers. Which is why builders experimented with arches in lieu of solid walls. The Colosseum consisted of 3 tiers or layers of 80 arches. Other buildings in Rome also utilized arches, which we'll talk about in later weeks.

The arena was made of a wooden floor covered with sand. Beneath the arena was an elaborate underground (hypogeum) network of tunnels, 32 elevators, and trap doors.

They flooded the arena for mock sea battles. The walls were lined with water proof material (hydraulic mortar). 4000-5000 cubic meters of water was required and a series of drains led to an elaborate drain system surrounding the Colosseum which sent the water back into the sewer system.

Each level had drinking fountains and toilets (latrines) which had running water so that waste could be moved down pipes into the surrounding drain system.

Exterior walls were covered with travertine stone (from Tibur or modern-day Tiboli). Interior walls made of tuff (tufa in English)(a porous, volcanic stone). Bricks and tiles were also used.

80 numbered arched entrances led to groups of seats. A spectator's ticket listed which door to enter. The design enabled quick crowd evacuation (an estimated 15 minutes). Interestingly, a separate tunnel was constructed just for the emperor and his party so they wouldn't have to mingle with the crowd.

There were four distinct row sections depending on status in society - the closest section to the arena was reserved for the emperor, high aristocracy and Senator class. Women and slaves sat/stood together in the very top section. The Colosseum contained approximately 50,000 seats.

At the very top, there was an awning system (velarium) put in place with 240 masts and a pulley system to spread sheets of canvas, leaving a hole in the center for stage lighting. Without it, the temperatures within the structure would have been horrendous not to mention the spectators sitting in direct sunlight all day long.

350 years of shows took place here, which included gladiatorial games, re-enactments of battles, dramas and even a few public executions. Today, a few shows take place on the outside using the building as a backdrop.

References:

Wikipedia

Colosseum.net

BBC - excellent animation with information

The-Colosseum - lots of useful information on materials, architecture, the drainage system, etc.

Synthreal - some interesting facts

TV Show - When Rome Ruled - Secrets of the Gladiators- http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/when-rome-ruled/4722/Overview

Thanks to Sports Know-How for the modern-day arena dimensions.

Research - Ancient Rome - Gladiators

2011-09-21T16:28:00.000-05:00

As soon as you read the subject of today's entry, "Gladiator", I bet your brain immediately held images of sexy, half-naked men holding swords and shields, grunting, sweating, perhaps looking like Russel Crow...

Of course, that's Hollywood. They want the gladiator to look hot and be victorious, otherwise we wouldn't waste our money watching. Who wants to see a bloody battle where the hero dies?

But, tens of thousands of ancient Romans did enjoy them. The bloodier, the better.

Gladiators were like heavy-weight wrestlers of today. A lot of time and money was invested in these men (most of whom were slaves) to make them superior athletes, despite the fact that many died after one or two fights. Not very many actually made a career of fighting. Those that did became celebrities and sometimes were their freedom and a symbolic wooden sword. Ironically, these gladiatorial slaves had the best medical care and the best nutrition available.

So much focus went into these games because they correlated to the emperor's popularity with the people. If the spectators enjoyed the games and were happy, then they were happy with the emperor. Eventually, the emperor became directly tied with the outcome of the games as a sort of referee. When a gladiator fell or was defeated, it was the emperor who decided whether he should live or die. If the crowd wanted to see the gladiator's death, then the emperor gave the signal ("Jugula") to cut his throat.

Gladiators spent six long, dedicated months training at the Ludus or Ludi (gladiator school). They start with wooden swords and build up their stamina and muscles and finally learn to use real swords. The trainer is called a lanista. One recent archaeological excavation showed that the lanista was well-respected almost treated like royalty in his burial.

Each game consisted of several pairs of fighters. Romans believed in fair fights between "matched up" players. Each player had a specific role. For example, one role was the Net Man (Retiarius) who used a net and a trident to capture his opponent. Another role was the Fish Man (Murmillo) who relied on a sword. A fight would pair these opposing roles (Net vs Fish) for a more entertaining battle. Since their tools and armor were limited, they relied on their wits to win. Like modern day wrestling matches, they would include a lot of drama to woo the crowd.

The name Gladiator actually derives from Gladius, a type of two-edged sword.

The games lasted about 350 years, starting in 264 BC. The first games lasted 100 days and consisted of thousands of animals (many exotics imported from Africa). The largest games were held at the Colosseum which had a capacity up to 80,000 people.

Women did participate in Gladiatorial games and were called Gladiatrices.

References:

"When Rome Rules - Secrets of the Gladiators" - http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/when-rome-ruled/4722/Overview

"The Real Story - Gladiator" - http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/video/player/culture/related/the-real-story-gladiator-sneak-peek/876374365001/

Gladiatorial Games - http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/arena.html

Research - Medieval Cooking - Vegetables

2011-07-07T16:21:00.000-05:00

Just like fruits available at this time, vegetables were often divided between upper and lower classes.
Vegetables favored by the upper classes include onions, garlic and leeks - the more flavorful, less hearty types. While the lower classes ate more lettuce, cabbage, and carrots.
Also, during this time, vegetables were sometimes called "herbs" or "potherbs" and were grouped together with herbs such as fennel and parsley and edible flowers such as violets. Leafy plants were often called wortes.
Tomatoes, yams, artichokes, green beans, corn, and colored peppers were not yet available.

Some of the other vegetables that were eaten in this period:

Celery
Spinach
Beets
Radishes
Turnips
Parsnips
Shallot
Watercress
Endive
Beetroot
Artichokes
Long-Beans
Broad-Beans
Peas
Lentils
Asparagus
Squashes
Sprouts

Resources:
Middles-Ages.org
GodeCookery
Medieval Cookery Blog

Research - Medieval Cooking - Fruits

2011-06-09T09:30:00.001-05:00

Now we will look at the fruits that were available.

Interestingly enough, nobles did not eat a lot of fruit as evidenced by their poor teeth/bone health. They thought fruit was for the poorer classes. It is known they did eat dates, an expensive and exotic import from Northern Africa.

According to the website Middle Life and Times - the following fruits were imported into Europe:

Apricot - from Armenia
Plums - from Syria
Peach - from Persia
Cherry from Cerasus
Lemon - from Media
Pomegranate and Quince - from Crete
Pear and Apple - from Greece
Oranges - from China

Wild cherries, raspberries, red currants, and strawberries grew locally. Quince was used as a dried perserve and to season meat. Eventually melons were introduced into gardens.

Fruits that have disappeared include sarb and carob.
Romans used a citrus fruit called a citron which no doubt made it to European hands.

Medieval Cookery has a wonderful, detailed listing by date of fruits and their varieties.

Old Cook has some interesting information about the different fruits and origins. For example, the orange. During the early middle ages, only the bitter orange was known (which was too bitter to eat outright) and the sweet orange (that is edible without cooking) wasn't known until the 15th century. Other fruits include blackberry, figs, and apricots. The site even includes a few recipes.

Research - Medieval Cooking - Gardening

2011-06-07T09:26:00.001-05:00

This next topic will look at the various gardens that were in play in the middle ages.

Medieval gardens were almost always enclosed, ranging from monastic stone walls to poor laborer dirt embankments. For those who have wooden fences know a rabbit or other rodent will just burrow underneath and squeeze through, so using walls or hedges to keep out pests probably wasn't effective.

A good reference for the actual structure of medieval and later period gardens can be found in this website: Medieval Gardens. They also mention that grapes, roses and rosemary were grown over topiaries. Potted plants, both inside and out, were in use as well as starting seedlings in pots to extend growing seasons. Basil, rosemary, marjoram, gillflowers and others were often potted. Vegetables grown include cabbage, turnips, beans, peas, bulb onion, etc. A nice reference listing many different vegetables can be found near the end of the site.

Another excellent reference includes
Garden History Info which lists several good articles on gardening, including a medieval kitchen garden, mentioning turnips, beets, beans, peas, cabbage, leeks, cauliflower, and some information on tea.

A reproduction of a wattle fenced garden can be found on Penn State's Center for Medieval Studies - Kitchen Garden

And one last side trip to this nice site that talks about all kinds of gardens with lots of beautiful photographs:
Essentially England

Research - Medieval Foods - Spices

2011-06-03T14:17:00.001-05:00

To understand cooking in historic periods, you have to learn what fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices were available either in the gardens/fields or by trade. After the Crusades, trade had spread throughout Europe, the Middle East and even to Asia and India, so exotic spices were available - to the rich, of course.

According to Middle-Ages.Org.Uk Website, the following spices and enhancers were known:

Pepper
Cinnamon
Cloves
Nutmeg
Ginger
Saffron
Cardamon/Cardamom
Coriander
Cumin
Garlic
Turmeric
Mace
Anise
Caraway
Mustard
Salt

For an excellent listing of spices used and currently available, check out the Medieval Cookery site which even includes pictures and photographs!

Research - Medieval Foods - Cooking and Dining - Intro

2011-05-05T13:19:00.007-05:00

On my never-ending quest to learn more about the Medieval period, I have stumbled on several really great books and websites about Medieval cooking and dining.

Of course, the types of food varied with region (although traders brought "exotic" food from other areas/countries) and the wealth of the diner. The wealthier nobles ate richer, more varied foods than peasants and they could afford spices and better ingredients.

Spices also had another function - to preserve foods since they lacked sophisticated storage methods. And since spices were so valuable, they had to be locked up. Along the line of spices, royal establishments had a "spicery" who oversaw the quantity of spices used in cooking (to be sure people weren't overusing or stealing). Spices of this period included cinnamon, mace, cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmegs, and caraways.

Books of interest:

Dover - Free Sample Friday - Medieval Ornament and Design

2011-04-29T09:20:00.002-05:00

Today Dover books has a nice collection of free samples from their book, Medieval Ornament and Design by Jules Gailhabaud, featuring archectural and artistic designs. Only four sample pages are presented and larger samples so you can see some amazing details.

Click here

Roman Britian - The Initial Invasion

2011-04-08T10:53:00.004-05:00

This month I want to delve into some research on the invasion of Romans in Britannia and how they expanded their empire and their rule there. Then, finally, how and why they left. Should be interesting...especially with a few pictures of scantily clad Romans!

The British Isle was under frequent attack from various Barbarians, Vikings, and Romans. The most notable Roman attacks actually began around 55 BC with Emperor Julius Caesar. Typically, cities and countries that were threatened by the Romans would pay a tribute (tax) in order to avoid actual war, especially when the locals knew they could not defeat their enemy. Rome had better military tactics, a larger army, and better weapons, which is why they were able to expand so far.

August 26, 55 BC - Julius Caesar approached the Dover Channel with 2 legions of fighters (about 10,000 men) with the intention of quickly defeating the "barbarian" peoples and adding Britain to the Empire (and thus increasing his grandeur). However, it would not be an easy battle. The British Celts had been alerted and were ready to battle. Caesar's back-up calvary got caught in a storm and were forced to return to Gaul (modern-day France), leaving Caesar in a precarious situation. After some minor skirmishes and additional fleet damage by storms, Caesar admitted defeat and returned home.

The next year, he attempted the campaign again but with a much larger army (5 legions) and a fleet of 800 ships. On July 6th, they landed at Deal. On July 8th, the Celts retreated to a hill fort at Bigbury where the romans built a ramp and captured the fort. Unfortunately, another storm hit the Roman fleet and forced the legions back to the beach to repair their ships. In the mean time, the Celts appointed Cassivellaunus as their chief who eventually surrendered to Caesar when their attacks failed. They agreed to pay a tribute, ending the campaign. In September the Romans left Britain.

Book Resources:

Web Resources:
Wikipedia - Roman Conquest of Britain

Excellent Timeline

Interesting story about Julius Caesar

For Fun - The Most Expensive Castles in the World

2011-04-04T14:16:00.000-05:00

I just love drooling over these amazing properties that I could never in a million years afford...but it's nice to look...

These are the world's most expensive castles for sale. If you have a few million dollars, feel free to sign up! For those of us a little lower on the totem pole, let's just take a peak...

RatesToGo - The World's Most Expensive Castles for Sale - Part I

RatesToGo - The World's Most Expensive Castles for Sale - Part II

For Fun - Castles for Sale Around the World

2011-03-28T14:20:00.000-05:00

Ok, I hooked you on the first posting of Castles for Sale...so just being curious, I did a search for castles for sale and found a bunch of interesting sites. It's hard to believe so many wonderful castles are available for sale. If only I had a few million dollars...I could be living in a nice castle right now...

Anyway, back to reality...

Medievalists - a neat blog with listings (a little outdated now) but still worth looking at for inspiration.

AOL's Real Estate Pages - Castle Gallery

Castle Magic - castle builders (for those who dream big!)

Forbes - an outdated listing but worth looking through

For Fun - Castles for Sale in America

2011-03-22T14:11:00.002-05:00

Have a few million dollars lying around? Love the thought of living in a real castle complete with turrets and your own royal suite? You're in luck...check out these properties custom built to look like castles right here in America.

Feel free to drool...

Property Listings for a few castles

Properties Listings by State and also a few listings for canada.

HubPages with a few property listings and gorgeous pictures of the interiors.

Holy Turrets - properties for sale

Research - Holidays/Festivals - Candlemas (Feb 2)

2011-02-25T13:16:00.000-06:00

Candlemas:

Candlemas, a holiday that originated in the 4th century, was celebrated 40 days after Christmas (or Epiphany) - on February 2nd. On this day were big feasts and the church candles were blessed for the coming year (thus the name, Candlemas). People burned holiday greenery (leftover yule logs, etc) so the ashes could be used as fertilizer for the prepping of the fields. The burning of greenery and candles was symbolic of the coming light of Spring and regrowth/rebirth. The holiday also marked the start of the plowing of fields.

According to Churchyear.net,
"Thus if the sun cast a shadow on Candlemas day, more winter was on the way; if there was no shadow, winter was thought to be ending soon. This practice led to the folklore behind "Groundhog's Day," which falls on Candlemas Day."

For more info:
How Candlemas was celebrated in the Middle Ages

When Christians disposed of trees and holiday greenery

Celtic Music Guide

2011-02-15T14:00:00.000-06:00

There's nothing more fun that sitting in a quaint pub drinking Guinness and listening to some Celtic music.

This easy-to-navigate, simple site from Ceolas offers a nice list of concerts, events for enjoying Celtic music by region.

Click here for North American listing:
Ceolas.Org

They also offer Ireland, Europe and other locations.

Winter Blues - Everything is Frozen

2011-02-05T11:07:00.008-06:00

Snow storms have swept across this country the past week, which aren't too unusual for winter. But what is unusual are the ice and snow storms in normally warmer areas, such as southern Texas anbd Arizona. Even in Dallas we saw a week of below-freezing temperatures.

Amazingly, the last time Dallas experienced record cold temperatures was back in 1996 when it was only 8 degrees. Yuk!

Acording to the Dallas Weather Examiner, the record temperatures that have been reported are as follows:

FEBRUARY 2: 7 (1985)

FEBRUARY 3: 14 (1996, 1985, 1905)

FEBRUARY 4: 8 (1996)

Ever seen a frozen waterfall? Here's a picture of my pool's waterfall:

Here are some other frozen fountains I found on the internet. Beautiful!

For Writers - Book - Getting the Words Right

2011-01-14T15:15:00.004-06:00

"Getting the Words Right: How to Rewrite, Edit and Revise" by Theodore A. Rees Cheney
is a wonderful guide on frequently misused words and she tells us which ones to use depending on the meaning the author wishes to convey. Unpublished authors frequently use the wrong word because we use those words in everyday speech (such as nauseous).

Some examples on words that are misused include:
- anxious (with anxiety) vs eager
- bring (toward speaker) vs take
- continual (always going on with discernible intervals) vs continuous (without intervals)
- disinterested vs uninterested (lack of interest)
- enthuse is not a real word
- envy (discontented and want what someone else has) vs jealous (fear of rivalry)
- farther (distances you could imagine measuring) vs further (hard to measure)
- nauseous (making others feel nausea and creating their desire to vomit) vs nauseated (to feel nausea)
- utilize (make do with something not normally used for that purpose)
- whether (consideration of alternatives) vs if (setting up a condition of the future)

This is a wonderful guidebook for authors to clean up and improve their writing.

Also, check out WordDoctors.com

How Fedualism Worked

2011-01-06T14:12:00.000-06:00

How Fedualism Worked:

A country's king divided all the land into portions, each called a "fief".

The King granted these fiefs to those who swore loyalty and service (Oath of Fealty) to him. He granted land to both barons and vassals (or knights) in exchange for services and taxes. The barons and vassals swore an Oath of Fealty to the king in exchange for land. So, when the king wanted to go to war or defend his country, he could call upon these barons and vassals to build up his army.

The barons also had the option of paying fines or hiring military men or professional knights to assist the king in their place. The number of soldiers sent in was directly proportional to the amount of land that the baron oversaw (ie, the larger the fief the more soldiers required).

Peasants and serfs lived in the fiefdom and worked for the overlord. A certain amount of product the serf grew or made was owed to the overlord in return for living on this land and for the overlord's protection. In harsh times, if the serf was not able to make enough surplus, his family would starve. In addition, the peasants were heavily taxed by the overlords (who in turn owed tax to the king).

For more information:
Middle-Ages.Org.Uk

Spartacus.Schoolnet.Co.Uk - a nice overview starting with William the Conqueror

Knighthood and Chivalry in War and Peacetime Article

The Feudal System

Interactive Learner

Norman Social Organization and Feudalism

Tools - Working with Microsoft Word - Auto-Formatting Options

2010-11-19T09:06:00.004-06:00

Howdy,

Lately I've been having an aggravating time with Microsoft Word, especially if I am reading critiques from others who have different settings than me. So I would like to post some helpful hints, starting with Auto-Formatting options.

Auto-Formatting:
1. Superscripting ordinal numbers (such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd)
2. Setting straight quotes vs smart quotes
3. Change fractions to the smaller fractional format

If you want to change any of these options, follow these steps:
For pre-2007 Word:
1. Go to Tools menu
2. Select "AutoCorrect Options"
3. Click "AutoFormat As You Type" tab
4. Uncheck the options you want to turn OFF.
5. Click Ok to save.

For 2007 Word:
1. Go to File menu
2. Click "Word Options" button at the bottom
3. Select "Proofing" in the left menu
4. Select "AutoCorrect Options" button
5. Click "AutoFormat As You Type" tab
6. Uncheck the options you want to turn OFF.
7. Click Ok to save.

For more helpful hints, check out:
TechRepublic Blog

Review - Book - Growing Up Royal

2010-11-12T09:23:00.005-06:00

An interesting book through the eyes of royal family members. Includes lots of tidbits of information regarding inheritance rules in different countries, roles of various staff members, who is involved with ceremonies and what they wear, and more. There's a list of the King of Britain's duties (or in the current case, Queen). The author even tells us a little about Balmoral, the vacation residence of the British monarchy. All presented in an easy-to-read format with lots of pictures.

Research - Ireland - Babies/Customs

2010-11-11T16:52:00.003-06:00

Look at some odd customs about conception, birth and babies:
From-Ireland.net

Irish Christianing Customs:
Fantasy-Ireland.com

Birth Customs:
Sundown.Pair.Com

A few references to children:
MaggieBlanck.com

Research - Holidays/Festivals - St. Nicholas' Day (Dec 6)

2010-11-08T13:30:00.004-06:00

St. Nicholas' Day:

St. Nicholas was a 4th century bishop from Myra, who was imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian and died on December 6th (year unknown and his remains were moved). Legend says he resurrected three murdered boys, which led to him being known as the protector of children. St. Nicholas had a huge cult following, expanding the legends and practices. The Dutch Sint Klaes eventually morphed into Santa Claus with a red outfit and a sack of toys for children.

For more information:
StNicholas Center - an excellent explanation of the history of the holiday

Fordham.edu

The birth of Santa Claus

The Evolution of St Nicholas

Sinterklaas

Research - England - Witches and the Witchcraft Act of 1735

2010-10-29T08:47:00.004-05:00

What better topic for our Halloween weekend than the horrible Witchcraft Act of 1735, the last of the witch trials acts passed in England, which decreed than anyone "suspected" of witchcraft practices (a very objective judgement) could be imprisoned for a year. The first act during this witch trial period was passed in 1542, allowed suspected witches to be hanged. Witches were both male and female. Most witches who were accused were often hanged, with or without trials.

For further reading:

Witches and Witchtrials (an interesting database of the alleged witches):
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/witchtrial/eis.html

Horros of the National Archives:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/horrors/witches.htm

More details about the laws:
http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/137526

Medieval Witches and Witchcraft:
http://medieval.etrusia.co.uk/witch/

Texas - The Colony - Pirate Days of Texas, October 16, 2010

2010-10-17T14:05:00.013-05:00

Pirate Days of Texas
piratedays.org
October 16 & 17, 2010
The Colony, Texas

Captain Jack sightings...

Every few hours a cannon blasted thanks to this friendly pirate!

One of the pirate bands that were singing on the main stage. They had bands playing all sorts of music on the main stage while there were shows/exhibits on another stage down the road.

Pirates

Arrrrg! Sail Ho to some Pirate Festivals

2010-10-04T09:18:00.004-05:00

Scroll past the annoying ads and find a nice listing of Pirate-themed festivals around the United States and a few in Canada. You can list these by Date or by Location/Area.

piratefestivals.com

Irish Festivals

2010-09-29T15:26:00.001-05:00

Sláinte! Cheers!
Since we're on the topic of festivals, here are some upcoming Irish festivals. Those held in March, in honor of St. Patrick's, are really fun.

http://www.azirishmusic.com/fest_irish.htm

It's time for a Renaissance Faire!

2010-09-17T08:44:00.002-05:00

I'm in the mood for a Renaissance Faire, especially with the heat of summer quickly cooling off and autumn heading our way.

Haven't been to a Ren Faire yet? You are missing out on some real fun. Visitors often dress in costumes (ranging from fairy creature to knights to pirates and more). Try tasty fair food, including roasted turkey legs and polish dog on a stick. Most have jousting tournaments. There are usually entertaining shows and musical groups. Check the website before going so you know the venues and the ticket prices.

Check out this listing of over 200 Renaissance and Pirate Faires around the United States, so find one in your area:
http://www.renfaire.com/Sites/

Review - Book - Medieval Children by Nicholas Orme

2010-09-09T14:07:00.006-05:00

"Medieval Children" by Nicholas Orme
Interesting book on aspects of raising children during the Medieval period.

A few interesting things I learned:
- "By 1493, the royal family was enforcing strict checks upon nurses' and babies' food. Whatever the nurse ate and drank herself was to be 'assayed' or tasted beforehand, for quality, by the household staff."
- They used bibs or "slavering clouts"
- Babies are given underclothes, petticoats, hose, coats, etc.
- Babies wore nappies (diapers)
- A cricket was a nursing stool or later a child's stool

Review - Website - Celtic Nations

2010-08-30T15:58:00.003-05:00

Well-organized and simple site contains lots of interesting information and links to the Seven Celtic Nations - Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales.

Each nation link contains data and sublinks for Geography, History, Music, etc.

celticheritagefestival.org

Review - Website - Society of Creative Anachronism

2010-08-23T13:03:00.003-05:00

The Society for Creative Anachronism is an excellent resource for medieval studies. They focus on the European Middle Ages, but sometimes they have articles on their sites that pertain to other areas before/after this period as well.

This particular site we are checking out contains some great articles about heraldry and naming. http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names.html

The articles are broken down by countries, such as England, France, Scotland, Ireland, and even a few on Arabia/Middle East.

On the bottom, there is a link to the Educational Articles which include lots of good stuff on Heralds and Heraldry.

For Writers - Grammar - Benefitted or Benefited?

2010-07-23T10:25:00.004-05:00

Greetings,

During my writing adventures, I have come across words that have (to me, anyway) odd-looking spellings. I plan to post these here, in case you find yourself questioning your own spellings. Also, some spellings depend on whether you are following American English or Standard British English. Keep in mind, Microsoft Word sometimes accepts either spelling - which will confuse you. Confused yet??

Now, is it Benefitted or Benefited?

The rule we learned as kids was to double the last consonant before adding -ed or -ing. However, the actual rule is to only double when the last consonant is stressed, such as permit (permitted, permitting). The stress is on the "mit" part.

In the case of benefit, the stress is not on the last part. So we do not double the last consonant. The correct spelling is BENEFITED.

Review - Website - Scottish Knights Templar

2010-06-30T15:28:00.002-05:00

Sometimes Googling on a topic pops up the most interesting websites, and this is one of those. Based on my search for Scottish Knights, this website came up and has a wonderful (albeit brief) timeline of Scottish History.

The other thing I love about it is the "Events This Week in Scottish History". Check it out!

Scottish Knights Templar

For Writers - Barbara Taylor Bradford Interview

2010-06-27T17:42:00.002-05:00

There is a wonderful short video interview from one of my favorite novelist, bestselling Barbara Taylor Bradford available on the "Writers and authors" blog which includes clips from her Hallmark movies (based on her books). She gives practical advice from her own experience.

Click here for the
Interview

Review - Website - Essential Architecture

2010-06-15T21:04:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I run across sites that, at first glance, seem uninspiring and not well organized. This is one of those, HOWEVER, once you start clicking around, you will find some wonderful full-color photographs of buildings that will make up for the lack in design. Lots of great information and research as the writer expounds on different archectural features and examples.

Click the link at the top and you can search for different types of buildings. My main two favorites are:

Castles/Fortresses

And

Palaces

Other designs worth peeking at - bridges, temples, churches, and even tombs.

Review - Website - Listing of Scottish Games

2010-06-03T16:24:00.004-05:00

It's about that time of year when the Scottish games begin!
What are "Scottish Games"?
Most of these festivals consist of fun-loving people donning kilts and tartans, sometimes playing bagpipes, dance competitions, children's activities, genealogy, playing Scottish sports, and more.

Check out this wonderful link to find an event near you!
Kilts n Quilts Festival Listings

Research - Edmund Leighton - Painter

2010-05-11T14:38:00.005-05:00

Nothing inspires a writer more than a beautiful painting on a favorite subject - knights. This delightful scene entitled "The Accolade" was painted by English artist Edmund Leighton (1853-1922), who specialized in Medeival period pieces. He trained at the Royal Academy Schools where his paintings were also exhibited.

Check out some of Edmund's other famous paintings:
the-athenaeum.org

Review - Website - Grammar Rules

2010-04-22T18:27:00.004-05:00

Having trouble remembering rules of grammar?
Need a handy guide to parts of speech?
Can't recall when to use a comma or not?
Check out these WONDERFUL printable cheat sheets to keep on your desk as you write:

Free Printable Sheets

Review - Website - Capitalization Rules

2010-03-07T14:19:00.003-06:00

I found this great site which summarizes the rules of Capitalization. Very handy.
Library Online

Resource - Medieval Churches - Gothic Architecture

2010-02-25T13:51:00.000-06:00

Gothic Architecture began in France around the 12th Century, originally known as "The French Style". This beautiful website explores this wonderful period or style, including architecture terms and links to stunning examples:

http://www.elore.com/elore4-2.html

Research - Medieval Churches and Cathedrals

2010-02-19T06:05:00.001-06:00

Churches were often built as elaborately, or even more elaborately, than castles. Cathedrals were churches that contained a seat for (or held the office of) a bishop, a position of great power, often acting as a councelor (or chancellor) to the monarch. Although cathedrals held positions of importance, not all were massive works of art. Since churches collected taxes and tithes from local citizens, they often became very wealthy and powerful. They also found power through the use of relics (supposedly) belonging to saints which led to pilgrimmages.

A listing of medieval churches:

http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=1fa01278-5dc7-4dc2-9f0e-1d7baa9dfc2f

Review - Website - WordCounter

2010-02-07T18:10:00.004-06:00

Need to know which words you use frequently or how many times you used words sorted by frequency? Then check out this free to use website:

Word Counter

Easy to use and quick.

Research - Medieval Churches - Relics

2010-01-24T10:25:00.000-06:00

Beginning around the 2nd Century, churches began to display important relics from saints. Relics ranged from ordinary objects (like pieces of fabric) to parts of a human skeleton. Believers would take long pilgrimages (spiritual trips) to visit shrines or holy places where relics were displayed. In time, the use of relics became a means for trickery and abuse. Citizens would flock to a church that held a saint's relic hoping to be blessed or healed by that particular saint.

Cults of Relics: http://www.the-orb.net/encyclop/religion/hagiography/cult.htm

Catholic Church and Relics: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12734a.htm

Review - TV - Weird Weapons of the Middle Ages

2009-12-25T14:58:00.017-06:00

History International hosts a wonderful video series called "Conquest", which often focuses on various weaponry used in history. This particular review focuses on the episode titled "Weird Weapons of the Middle Ages", which just touches a small portion of the interesting weapons and tools that were used during this period.

In this episode, the gang tries to combat a knight outfitted in plate armor with several odd weapons. The plate armor suit, weighing 60 lbs, is very solid and difficult to pierce except by sharp metal and within close range.

The Falchion was a single-blade sword that could slash against armor. It weighed between 5 and 8 pounds.

The mace was popular for close-range hits.

The flail, also known as the ball-and-chain, was an effective weapon if used carefully since the spike ball at the chain-end of the handle could hit the user.

Other weapons include hammer, ahlspiess (a spear), billhook, and a Godendag (club with spikes).

Want to see these in action? Check out the show on YouTube:
"Weird Weapons of the Middle Ages":
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Review - Book - The Age of Knights and Castles

2009-12-06T10:38:00.004-06:00

Age of Knights & Castles (World Book Looks at)

Fabulous reference guide! Includes a wonderful timeline as well as details on fashion, knightly careers, how campaigns were fought, the construction and defense of castles, and more.

Review - Book - Archers, Alchemists and 98 Other Medieval Jobs...

2009-12-06T10:33:00.012-06:00

An absolute must-have book for your medieval research! It is overflowing with information, including timelines. Jobs are organized by categories, such as "Castle Jobs", "Bread and Butter Jobs", "Life and Death Jobs", "Travel Jobs" and more. Each job is described in detail and includes synonymous terms.

Review - Book - The Healing Herbs

2009-12-06T10:24:00.003-06:00

The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide To The Curative Power Of Nature's Medicines

Although this book isn't necessarily based on Medieval medicines, it is a wonderful resource for herbal and all-natural medicines and procedures as well as some information about the role of women in medicine. Also includes some information on the herbs that Native American medicine.

Review - Book - Medieval Medicine in Illumined Manuscripts

2009-11-29T10:02:00.008-06:00

Medieval Medicine in Illuminated Manuscripts

This book contains fabulous examples of different medical techniques and practices used throughout the Middle Ages taken from actual manuscripts (illumined or illustrated). It also illustrates, through these manuscripts, the evolution of medicine -- from practices based on superstitions to methods based on scientific research (such as autopsies).

Research - Motte and Bailey Castles

2009-11-01T21:38:00.004-06:00

Most castles were built in a Motte (hill) and Bailey (keep) system. The earlier castles consisted of dirt hills (either natural or man-made) upon which a timber castle structure was built, then a large timber fenced-in keep was built around that. Within the keep were other buildings, such as a blacksmith shop, a bakery, the stables, etc. Most systems were built near freshwater sources. For those too far from streams or rivers, a cistern was created to contain water. However, during sieges, this could lead to the demise or surrender of the inhabitants once the water ran low.

This site contains a good definition of the motte and bailey system:

http://www.castles.me.uk/motte-and-bailey-castles.htm

Excellent photos of mottes: http://www.castlewales.com/motte.html

Lots of links to examples: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Motte-and-bailey

Resource - Castles of Spain

2009-11-01T21:30:00.003-06:00

This site lists several historic castles in Spain, including the well-known Alhambra which is mentioned in great detail in Philippa Gregory's book "The Constant Princess". It was built in the 9th Century in Arabic style.

http://www.europeupclose.com/castles-in-spain/

Visit this site for an interactive tour of the Alhambra:

http://www.mcah.columbia.edu/alhambra/flash/start.html

Resource - Historic Scotland

2009-10-03T17:39:00.003-05:00

This is a terrific website to explore some of Scotland's Historic Events. Learn about festivals, events and properties.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/events

Want to learn more about St Andrew's Day, check this out:
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/events/st-andrews-day-2009.htm

Need more information or images, take a peek at their resource page:
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/learning.htm

Resource - Castles of Ireland

2009-09-29T14:52:00.004-05:00

Even if you're not planning a trip to Ireland, this travel website is a wonderful resource.

Specifically, take a look at these historic castles:

http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/culture-and-sights/history-and-heritage/castles/

There's also a convenient clickable map to find more resources.

Looking for ancient monuments for your Druids or Celts? Take a look at these fascinating pieces of history:

http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/culture-and-sights/history-and-heritage/ancient-monuments/

Also check out:

http://www.europeupclose.com/irelands-historic-castles/

Resource - Historic Castles of Europe

2009-09-29T14:50:00.004-05:00

Wonderful website listing thousands of castles throughout Europe.

Search for a specific castle or browse by region/country.

Checkout the "Useful Links" for interesting side pages to visit.

http://www.historiccastles.com/

Resource - Castles of Belgium Website

2009-09-29T14:48:00.002-05:00

This website is a wonderful resource for castles built in Belgium. View pictures and details by location or family.

http://www.chateauxdebelgique.eu/Home.aspx?gclid=CKLk8fHKl50CFSTFsgodqlEd3g

Research - Materials Used in Castle Building

2009-09-10T16:26:00.002-05:00

Castles were originally built of dirt and timber which did not withstand heavy-duty fighting or fire. There are several resources that point to early stone castles, especially in the Arab world. Stone was costly because it took a long time to quarry and it had to be hauled/lifted into place at the site. Skilled stone masons were highly paid and often travelled whereever their skill was required. Cutting stone was very laborous work - they used chisels, hand-picks, stone axes. A few castles had facades of bricks.

This is a nice site that lists some of the different stones that were used:http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castlesq.htm

Wonderful site showing the different materials:http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/castles/kenilworth.shtml

Research - Medieval Castles

2009-09-10T16:25:00.003-05:00

Early medieval castles were very basic - usually built on a hillside (or even a man-made hill) in a motte and bailey format (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motte-and-bailey for examples).Castles were first built of wood then slowly were built of stone (which took longer to build and were more expensive).The advent of gunpowder and cannons at the end of the Middle Ages rendered stone walls useless; thus, castles evolved into elaborate palaces for the wealthy to live as opposed to being used as defensive units.

For interesting info, visit http://www.castlewales.com/life.html

Research - The Feudal System

2009-09-10T15:44:00.004-05:00

The feudal system, as we know it, began to take shape with the decline of the Roman Empire. Land was considered very valuable and was often given as reward for loyal service or honor in military situations. Land was divided up and given to feudal lords who oversaw them and the resources. Sometimes these were divided further into smaller parcels. Each land owner was responsible for yielding crops and taxes to their lord (who in turn gave to his lord, etc). The vassal also owed his lord military service. It became common for manor lords to hire professional knights to go to war in their place.

For more interesting information about feudalism, check out http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/distance/hist151/feudal.htm

Welcome

2009-03-09T20:11:00.003-05:00

I am currently working on several manuscripts, both contemporary and historical. In the mean time, please come on in and check out all my links and tidbits.