Culture of Living in Scotland

In Scotland, most of the poorer people lived in little "huts" that was built out of mud and stone with a thatch roof. This means that whenever it rains (which is very often), you would have to change the roof because it's so wet.
For the people, they are very unhygienic. Since there's no place for baths or a sink to wash their hands, these people are almost always dirty. Their faces are always covered in grime and dirt. The men's hair are mostly long because they don't have time or equipment to cut it properly. Since they don't bathe, have long hair, and almost always working, their hair is matted and knotted.
Their clothes are just as worse. Poor people can't afford silk and satin clothing so most of their clothes are just rags sewn together. Clothes weren't used for fashion, but just to keep warm and to cover their bodies.

There was one scene where there was a marriage celebration going on in the Scottish village. The villages were dancing and singing and drinking. Some food was available and games were happening. Then soon the English "knights" interrupted and took the bride away to the lord where she would spend her first of her married life with the lord of the manor or they would kill the husband. This shows how much little power the poor people had against the lord of the manor.

Medieval Life after the collaspe of the Roman Empire

The time between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance Era was the Middle Ages. But what were the affects on life in the medieval ages after the collapse of the Roman Empire?
Most of the cities and states between isolated because the European trade had been destroyed. The stone road system between prosperous cities were abandoned, segregating the cities. If people tried to trade, they were usually stopped by bandits living in between manor states. Because of all the cities and states breaking away from each other, communication slowed down and if there was an attack, there was no way to warn other cities in time. At around the 9th century, most of the western Europe was divided into large manor estates ruled by landlords.
While inside, people who did not farm or were artisans were forced to leave the manor and moved alone and unprotected in the country-sides; this was because they couldn't afford to barter off money and protection.
Since there was no trading business, whatever the manor estate they needed they had to get it within their walls. The manor was supported only by its inhabitants.
Later on, the schools close and education and cultural activities became forgotten because it was so hard to get by. Many people were illiterate the arts were almost forgotten.
There was almost no order. The coin system was not really used and people fell back to trading and bartering. The times were harsh and unhygienic. Many people died young, from sickness or by murder (there was no "officiers" to maintain peace and protect people). Even the knights, who were supposed to be the protectors turned rogue and used their authority in the wrong way.

On the good side, slavery slowly and gradually died out.
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"Medieval Times: The Basics" 42explore.com 10 Mar 2009.

Feudalism

Feudalism- Widespread in Europe

Feudalism was the dominant form of political organization in Europe during Middle Ages. The system was mostly used in western Europe. In the feudal life, a noble lord(who can also can be a King or Queen) will grant a fief to a vassal (who was any free man who receives a part of land). In return, the vassal provides military and other services. Later the vassal can still grant parts of the fief to other free man; The lord can give a land grant to serf farmers (they were semi-freemen) to grow crops and also provide protection and then the lords get crops, livestock, and also military service from his vassal.

But though that is what the simple definition everyone has been studying, on technical terms, the feudal system wasn't the "dominant" form of political organization (classing people into different groups). Feudalism was not what connected everyone in the society together. All that stuff said about the serf farmers working for the lords in return for protection is called manorialism (or seignoialism); this was not part of feudalism. The kings and queens did not use the system to exert control over their subjects, during their challenges and weaknesses.

So if this is saying feudalism never existed, where did the idea come from? In my opinion, all the little connections, like the serf and the lord, etc., where called different things and all were different types of politial organization, but the general idea of giving and taking something back is feudalism. Sure you could say that is never existed because it wasn't the dominant form of political organization but just the way that they did it. I think that the definition of feudalism should be revisited and to be tuned out.

Image Source: http://web000.greece.k12.ny.us/SocialStudiesResources/Social_Studies_Resources/GHG_Documents/European%20Feudal%20System%20Chart%2006.03.jpg

Snell, Melissa. "The F-Word" About.com. 4 Mar 2009.

The First Crusade

To me, the First Crusade was just a death trap from the very beginning. It was all about trickery and death. More people died in just the journey rather than the fights along the way.

The First Crusade's point was to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the Middle East because the place where all events of Jesus Christ was happening, happened in Jerusalem. Then the religion was overtook by the Muslims. In my opinion, I think that they should not have started a crusade for it was useless and because different religions will spread whether you like it or not. Then again, it was the Holy Land, where Jesus Christ was supposedly crucified on a hill but cultures and religion will always be shared and changed. People have their own opinion of who to worship.

Spreading Catholicism became pointless not only through the journey but already from the start! Most of the people that joined the crusade only hopped on the wagon for riches and a free card to heaven. Tricking the people into a trap that will lead more that half of the people to their ends. Is killing another and sinning truly the way to walk with God? Did the Bible tell them to go on a long journey and end lives so you could reclaim religious land? Why did people take the risk of life of death with riches and wealth in the Middle Ages just because the opportunity popped up? When what they wanted was the be more Christian they became what they were trying to fight from the very beginning.

The Pope and the Emperor of Byzantine were the minds that brought death to thousands so why weren't there people to oppose them. Was everybody so convinced by the Pope and the Emperor that they were completed blinded to what they have been believing in for so many years?

Interesting stuff about "Blood Red Horse

Blood Red Horse is a story was William's road to becoming a knight. He has just gotten a horse that is not necessarily the giant war horse he was expected to get. Hosanna is the blood red horse that seems to fit William's personality. Both of them seem to get on really well.

I find the character Gavin, the older brother of William, a nice feature in the story. In every story whether in movies or novels, their has be that annoying character that brings out the worse in everybody. In this case, it is Gavin. He rode Hosanna to death just for a hunting trip and wasn't even concerned for something that isn't his. I'm amazed that Ellie even like Gavin before for his selfishness and rude attitude. I enjoyed the part when Ellie told Gavin off for almost killing William's horse.

Medieval Simulation Blog Post

Greetings. The name's Joan. I'm the local blacksmith here in this city; well there's the other old, fat blacksmith on the other side of the village but he hates me 'cause I'm of the female society. Oh boo, you Henry! Female blacksmiths are so in right now! And to think I studied the art of making things from metal from him!
Anywho, as a blacksmith, I'm pretty important to the society. I make all these types of weapons and armor for the knights and soldiers. I get a lot of customers from the noble lot, all wanting shiner swords and this and that. I make the fine swords used by the good and brave knights of our city. I also make keys if anyone wants to keep closets locked or doors barred. Also chains for the prisoners; the guards usually come in with a whole lot of orders 'cause their chains from the con-man Henry keeps rusting and bending. Heh.
As an artisan, I sell and make for my town and also support my family in our house above my shop. I must say, they complain so much about the "banging" and "clanging". But that "noise" is merely the sounds of my best friends hard at work.
You can probably already guess that because I'm so busy, I ain't got real friends. That's pretty true but I don't like people much; they talk a lot, complaining all the time. My friends are the anvils, hammers, rasps, files, chisels, and pincers. I absolutely love my hammer 'cause I made it myself. They help me get on in life and support the people I love. The hammer helps me flatten and shape metal. I bang it on hot metal when it cools a little after coming out of the furnace. My anvil is used as a template to shape the metal. I use the file to smooth out rough edges. I like this tool quite some too, but as my usual orders are swords, I can't use them.

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"Blacksmiths" 11 Apr 2003. 18 Feb 2009

Blood Red Horse

Two Main Characters of this story are Will and Gavin. Will is the younger brother of Gavin. He is the one that is trying to prove to everyone that he is prepared and a candidate for knighthood. He doesn't like this older brother, Gavin, but he likes Ellie. Gavin, Will's older brother, is the teasing type. So far, not much has been told about him, but we can tell that he too likes Ellie. Both sons are candidates or being knights because they are sons of a lord.

Will and Gavin are part of the nobles' society. Because they are the sons of a noble/lord, they live in a manor. The have a nurse that takes care of them, sort of like a baby-sitter. She probably belongs in the servants group.
If a lord/noble's son does not get picked for knighthood, they head off to to be monk or a bishop. Gavin hints to Will a lot about the local monks that are trying to build a monastery (where monks live and have scheduled times to learn and pray...etc) that he should go hang out with them to get used to the daily life in the future. Here, Gavin is simply competing with his brother and teasing him that Will will become a monk and not a knight, because Gavin will...


Author's Note: Doesn't that last line confuse you? Will will become a monk and not a knight because Gavin will...