Parts of a Castle: The Gatehouse

This is a picture from inside the gatehouse in Leeds Castle, Kent, England.

This is a Norman castle gatehouse in Carmarthen, South West Wales. It dates to about 1409.

Castles: Medieval War Machines!

This is a picture of Harlech Castle in Wales. 

It was built by King Edward I between 1282 and 1289. Image from Wikipedia

Here is the historical scenario for our castle mapping and building project:

The year is 1282. King Edward I of England has defeated the last Welsch governing family, Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and his brother Dafydd...their last rebellion leading to their eventual defeat and death. King Edward now plans to annex all of Wales and build castles throughout the country to protect his new land. English soldiers will be garrisoned in the castles, and the towns will be settled by English colonists. King Edward's head architect, Master James St. George, has given you the responsibility of planning and building a castle for King Edward. This castle is to be located on Cardigan Bay on the west side of Wales. Where will you choose to build your castle, and why there? Be prepared to defend your overall building plan.

Here is the link to the web site where you can watch

the last three parts of the castle video we watched this week: 

 http://thehelpfulartteacher.blogspot.com/2012/02/medieval-castles.html

Image found on this web site: http://www.powayusd.com/teachers/dsykes/harlech_castle.htm

Can a quilt made in the 21st century be a primary source?

Here is an interview with the artist of the quilt called Blue Men. Read it carefully. Then think about whether this quilt is a primary source that tells us about a tribe of people called the Tuaregs.

Interview for Quilt Alliance Nov 11, 2001JoAnn Popisil  interviewing artist Hollis Chatelain       
http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/qsos/interview.php?kid=14-31-363“JP: Who inspired you, as far as this quilt? The friends that you talked about. ”“HC: It especially started when I lived in Burkina Faso. There are a lot of Tuaregs. The Tuaregs are a tribe that is nomadic. They cross the desert on their camels, on their caravans, and they traditionally carry the goods from north Africa to black Africa. They're really wonderful people. I was very intrigued by them. The men wear indigo blue turbans to protect themselves from the sun and the sand. The indigo, the blue, actually tints their skin blue. That's why this is called "Blue Men" and why it's painted in blue dyes. When I lived in Burkina Faso these Tuaregs used to come to the house. These are Tuareg earrings that I'm wearing right now. They make leather boxes, and silver jewelry. I learned a lot from those people. Once they realize that you'll buy things, then they're there all the time, and they want you to sell their handicrafts for them, because they figure you know more people that have money. I've spent thousands of hours with these people. I learned to drink Tuareg tea with them, and they have a wonderful sense of humor. Everywhere that I lived in the Sahel region, which is the sub-Saharan area in West Africa, there were Tuaregs. I became friends with them. Never the women, always the men. The Tuaregs would come into the city to sell their handicrafts. I became good friends with them, and this is a tribute to those people.”

The Bayeux Tapestry & the The Battle of Hastings

October 14, 1066 is know as a pivotal year in medieval history as an English King dies and leaves a power vacuum that draws in three powerful claimants: a Viking from Norway, a French Norman, and and English Saxon. When English King Edward dies, Englishman Harold Godwinson is endorsed by the Witan, a royal council of advisors, to become the next King. Frenchman William, Duke of Normandy, says the throne was promised to him by the former King Edward, and starts to pull an army together to fight for the crown. At the same time, Viking King Harald Hardrada of Norway says the crown belongs to him, and he also gathers an army. Hardrada and his army invade England in the north, and King Harold goes to fight him in a battle at Stamford Bridge. Hardrada is badly defeated. Meanwhile, William of Normandy lands his army in the south of England, and King Harold now travels to meet William to do battle at Hastings. The video below covers this part of the battle. It focuses on battle strategy, weapons, and how the battle ends.

                             

                              

                                      Below: Norman Soldiers on horseback in the Bayeux Tapestry

Historians consider the Bayeux Tapestry a primary source of information about the Battle of Hastings. This artifact is 230 feet long and 20 inches high. How has such an unusual source survived over 900+ years?! Today it is kept in a museum, the Tapisserie de Bayeux in Bayeux, France. Here is a link to the museum that will give you information about how such a rare source is cared for today:
http://www.tapestry-bayeux.com/index.php?id=403

The Feudalism Thing?!!!

Here is a fun way to review Feudalism and life on a 

Medieval Manor! Click on the video below.

Below is your first online participation assignment! Type your name, first and last, in the Name box. Then read the question and type your answer in the box below the question. Finally, click Submit. That's all there is to it!