World History
The Medieval Paupers - Presents a lecture by Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Nelson examines Medieval paupers by categorising them into three groups, physically incompetent, socially marginalised and economically deprived and examines factors contributing to this state, as well as outcomes of this state.
From the site:
About 20% of the medieval population were destitute and homeless, wandering the roads of Europe looking for work or for charity, and climbing beneath a roadside hedge to die. Although they were ubiquitous, they have been neglected by historians because of the lack of sources discussing them directly. One exception was the starving beggars who followed "King" Tafur on the First Crusade. They were utterly without fear and, when food was low, would go out and capture one of the Muslim opponents. They would then roast and eat him. Leaders of both Muslims and Christians feared the beggars and finally conspired to lure them out into a waterless desert and abandon them there without supplies. Only a few survived.
Poverty became institutionalized by the early modern period and remained so until the European empires could raise living standards generally by exploiting their colonies. Now that the colonial system has collapsed, there are signs of the reappearance of a permanent underclass even in the industrialized nations. So the beggars of the middle ages may not have been so much a reflection of medieval society's lack of sensitivity or humanity as a result of economic changes that they were unable or unwilling to control.
- Free Medieval History Courses
Several universities are putting complete courses online for free now. Visitors can peruse course materials and watch lectures even if they do not get any academic credit for it. MIT is probably the best known for this but some other schools are as well...
- Medieval Bestiary: Animals In The Middle Ages
Medieval Bestiary: Animals in the Middle Ages - Annotated listing of materials related to the genre and on the subject of "animals in the Middle Ages" in general. Also listings are by author and subject. The annotations are well done although not all...
- Medieval Castle Siege Weapons
Medieval Castle Siege Weapons - Site focused on medieval castles, siege engines, knights and other aspects of medieval warfare. Of particular interest are several special sections relating to Dungeons & Dragons and The Lord of the Rings. Many people have...
- Topcastles
Topcastles - Robert Rongen presents images and brief details of hundreds of medieval castles, sorted by country, region and castle type. Includes a quick guide to castle types with plans, and a list of the top 100 castles, as rated by surfers. Most of...
- Rome At Its Height
Rome at its Height - Part of the Lectures in Medieval History Series, by Lynn Harry Nelson at University of Kansas. Includes a map as well as an analysis of the Roman Empire at its peak. From the site: In many ways, the Roman empire remains the...
World History
Medieval Paupers
The Medieval Paupers - Presents a lecture by Lynn Harry Nelson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Nelson examines Medieval paupers by categorising them into three groups, physically incompetent, socially marginalised and economically deprived and examines factors contributing to this state, as well as outcomes of this state.
From the site:
About 20% of the medieval population were destitute and homeless, wandering the roads of Europe looking for work or for charity, and climbing beneath a roadside hedge to die. Although they were ubiquitous, they have been neglected by historians because of the lack of sources discussing them directly. One exception was the starving beggars who followed "King" Tafur on the First Crusade. They were utterly without fear and, when food was low, would go out and capture one of the Muslim opponents. They would then roast and eat him. Leaders of both Muslims and Christians feared the beggars and finally conspired to lure them out into a waterless desert and abandon them there without supplies. Only a few survived.
Poverty became institutionalized by the early modern period and remained so until the European empires could raise living standards generally by exploiting their colonies. Now that the colonial system has collapsed, there are signs of the reappearance of a permanent underclass even in the industrialized nations. So the beggars of the middle ages may not have been so much a reflection of medieval society's lack of sensitivity or humanity as a result of economic changes that they were unable or unwilling to control.
- Free Medieval History Courses
Several universities are putting complete courses online for free now. Visitors can peruse course materials and watch lectures even if they do not get any academic credit for it. MIT is probably the best known for this but some other schools are as well...
- Medieval Bestiary: Animals In The Middle Ages
Medieval Bestiary: Animals in the Middle Ages - Annotated listing of materials related to the genre and on the subject of "animals in the Middle Ages" in general. Also listings are by author and subject. The annotations are well done although not all...
- Medieval Castle Siege Weapons
Medieval Castle Siege Weapons - Site focused on medieval castles, siege engines, knights and other aspects of medieval warfare. Of particular interest are several special sections relating to Dungeons & Dragons and The Lord of the Rings. Many people have...
- Topcastles
Topcastles - Robert Rongen presents images and brief details of hundreds of medieval castles, sorted by country, region and castle type. Includes a quick guide to castle types with plans, and a list of the top 100 castles, as rated by surfers. Most of...
- Rome At Its Height
Rome at its Height - Part of the Lectures in Medieval History Series, by Lynn Harry Nelson at University of Kansas. Includes a map as well as an analysis of the Roman Empire at its peak. From the site: In many ways, the Roman empire remains the...