"7 Common Myths About the Middle Ages" Topic

"Did you major in history? If you're reading this on your own laptop with wifi you paid for, we're guessing not. But that also means you probably are horribly misinformed about the middle ages, which we're sure is a serious problem in your day to day life. Still, it's interesting to realize just how much of what you know is dead wrong…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Only seven?

I was expecting the old "The Dark Ages weren't backwards" guff. That particular revisionism smacks of needing to prove black is white and thus dying at the next zebra crossing.

True, innovation and enquiry never stopped, but certain technologies the Romans enjoyed weren't seen again until the Industrial Revolution.

I have a particular pet peeve about the armor and witch burning myths. I once had a college professor claim that armor was so heavy that knights had to be lifted into the saddle with a block and tackle apparatus.

I can imagine a retinue on campaign: "Mount up men! The enemy approaches. Set up the pulley!"

And the witch hysteria did not get underway until the Late Medieval period and became a raging fire by the Reformation, before disappearing again. During the Early and High Medieval periods witch persecutions are not evident.

Not only that,but in the earlier period, the official RC position was that belief in witchcraft was heretical. This was decreed c. 1300,IIRC.

Later,of course,it was ruled heretical NOT to believe in witchcraft.

I once had a college professor claim that armor was so heavy that knights had to be lifted into the saddle with a block and tackle apparatus.

Could this be a confusion with jousting? My understanding is that jousting armor could weigh up to 110 lbs.

I don't know if they used block and tackle or not. This could just a case of conflating Hollywood and reality.

Columbus as alive in the Middle Ages?

At least according to this list he was, so the 15th century in part of the Middle Ages?

It's like the Bermuda Triangle. It can be expanded or contracted to encompass the area you wish it to.

Yes, but only by the zenomorphs from Betelgeuse V.

We (SIDU – Spanish Inquisition Down Under) burnt a witch last week.

"zenomorphs"

Gotta watch out for those aliens that look like Greek Philosophers, sneeking around, stealing our paradoxes…

Joan of Arc was a heretic and a witch, thus the double motivation to burn her. Also, there was no body left afterward, which was also insurance against future mischief.

On the "plate armor too heavy", we already debunked that on another Tango thread posted the same day.

…so the 15th century in part of the Middle Ages?

Even the early 16th century is part of the "middle ages". It depends on which part of Europe you are talking about. Different parts entered the "enlightenment" of the Renaissance at different times, speaking generally, of course (some individuals were never pathematically a part of the "middle ages", which is why the Renaissance occurred in the first place). The "middle ages" faded in Italy first, as early as the beginning of the 14th century according to some points of view or definitions. And the "middle ages" was definitely still alive and kicking in Scotland, northern England, most of Wales, Ireland and Russia long after the 15th century was over….

They're just applying abductive logic, Mike.

The world is not just Europe. China, India, Persia and other areas of the world still were progressing.

GWA…no so much. The 'Middle Ages' is pretty poor term at the best of times, but in the 16th C, neither Scotland nor England were medieval countries. Russia may be a different matter.