TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

I found out Albert is a medievalist and very enthused about showing up here. Look for him soon.

That's great, Terry! I hope we can draw in some other M.A. fans by listing this site on Yahoo, etc. We had a lot of IVANHOE admirers over at P&P, and I hope we can continue our discussion here.

He reminds me that his online name is pelles and his email is pelles@spring.com. Why don't you drop him a line Amy and tell him about what's going on. I told him to expect something explaining what was going on ok? How about folks in the Jane Austen site?

Terry: I did post this URL to the JA site -- most of those folke, of course, are interested in JA and not the Middle Ages. But I did find about 3-4 other people there who shared my passion for the period & for IVANHOE. Most have found us & are alreadly posting. I will e-mail pelles post haste!

Yes, I am interested but less informed than all of you.

That's OK, Rita -- feel free to ask any questions. I'm sure someone on this board can come up with an answer!

A question. What is the different between 'medieval' times and the 'dark ages'. Medieval was from 900 to 1300? And the dark ages were from 300 to 900? I know this is off topic, so is this worth creating a new topic? This is something I simply must know the answer to, you understand? Please be tolerant.

Terry: I have to say, I don't know why a certain period was demarcated as the Dark Ages, and then suddenly, here come the Middle Ages! Johanna?

There must be someone here who knows?

I wish there were _someone here._ Any thoughts on how to further publicize this site?

Do a search for 'medieval' sites and aske them to link here. And get listed on submit-it to all the search engines.

Will do. How does that "submit it" business work? Thanks!

Do a search for submit it or submit-it till you find their site, it has directions I think.

Hi Amy! www.submit-it.com/ will list a site on 20 search engines for free. They also have other options for a price. But if you want the page to appear towards the top of the list, you need to add a "Madda Tag" to the web page with key words you want the search engines to look for. I don't know if you can add those to these pages or if they already have them, though. I think you can also get this page added to a GeoCity by going to www.geocities.com I would definitely like to see more people here. Good luck!

Do we need a dedicated web page for this?

Thanks Suzanne! I will give that a try.

Hey! You! What time is it?

Sounds like Morris Day and the Time! ("WHAT TIME IS IT?!") White Wolf, are you another wolf? Do I know you? Are you interested in the Middle Ages? If so, please feel free to post to this board often & create your own topics if you choose. We practice medieval tolerance here!! (but no Spanish Inquistion, so don't worry...)

Amy, about getting more people in here- you could try asking other med sites to provide links. Anyone want to discuss Ivanhoe, I am doing some reading on this era.

Rita, I ALWAYS love to discuss IVANHOE. Let's start with this topic: Which female character do you like better, Rebecca or Rowena, and why? I have to cast my vote for Rebecca -- I admire her intelligence, high moral principles, ability to live in a hostile land while still maintaining her dignity, and willingness to die for her faith. Rowenna to me seems more like a typical pale heroine from a _romans_ -- she's beautiful, she's faithful, but is she intelligent? What does everyone think?

Rebecca, me too! I think she is very modern in many ways but I suppose Rowena is the archetypal English beauty/virtous woman of the age. I don't understand rebecca's fascination with ivanhoe. Anyone?

I guess she saw in him a "very gentle, parfait knight." He was chivalrous, and aside from a few anti-Semetic remarks of his in the book, generally broad-minded. I'd guess that from her P.O.V. he was strong, handsome, as moral & as dedicated to his Faith as she was. Plus, he risks his life to save hers! That would probably work for me...

What about the templar order, anyone?

I think I posted all of my notes on Virtual View re: the Templars. My own view is that, like any organization, it was composed of both good & bad individuals: I have no doubt that many members truly accepted their role as warrior/monks, and gladly gave their lives to free the tomb of Christ from the infidel. In fact, they died at the Battle of the Horns of Hattin down to the last man, including the Grand Master -- Saladin had every one decapitated. On the other hand, I think that many were greedy -- more interested in acquiring gold & lands than in upholding their religious vows. What happened during the Fourth Crusade, at Constantinople, was a disgrace not just to the Templars, but to the Venetians & the Crusaders in general. I think that Bois de Guibert may fall into some middle groud -- he's not wholly evil, but he certainly has some depraved qualities. At the end though, he DOES redeem himself pretty spectacularly!!

Whoo-hoo! This place rocks! I have been out in the trenches teaching myself html etc, yes, easy for you pros, but now I can say "oh, yes, I understand..." I will post this site on the Medieval email list I am on, should be bringing on board some more minds. I understand, Terry, that the Middle Ages are generally demarcated by the rise and fall of heavy cavalry. Early, High and Late periods are the three catagories. The bow and arrow was a driving force behind the heavy and increasing complex armor. The rise of gun-powder rendered it obsolete. One aside: It is my understandingm that during the purported "real" heyday of King Arthur, bow and arrow weren't quite in as large use as later (more battle axe and sword) so the movie "First Knight" (aside from generally being a bad flick")was incorrect. Yes, I needed this...: )) Johanna

Johanna: The "real" historical period of Arthur was about 550 A.D., during the Dark Ages, and I don't think bow & arrow were even in use then. Since the historical Arthur fought the Romans, he probably fought with similar weapons -- sword, shield -- the basics. Here's a question for you -- when was the stirrup invented? I know this had a huge effect on warfare, since it led to mounted warriors. Thanks!

No Pots Were Thrown This Day i walk along the water & cross to the edge of the fields where i found a lone potter digging clay out with his heels his face never lost its look his hands held the air in season he had the push and drive that took on skill with the will of reason secretly he trusts you he figures you'll be able to do it he's seen you bust through & then he saw when you drew it i didn't say much i only listened to his voice he was in close touch with true art that makes pure a choice sometimes he would talk with his hands i always could see why they showed exactly how he understands the meaning in your sigh i told him about you when a question began to stir: "how can she use her heart without letting it use her?" he looked off toward the meadow where his mystery flew in plain sight then he took up his old banjo which he played for his own delight we all know music is truthful & that it changes the vibe & if you play it true to your feeling it reveals what you can't describe i lost his voice altogether in the strumming of his strings there was a song in his heart that he made appear in all things his eyes looked deep into mine at the instant his fingers withdrew the banjo cut short on a note that was blind blindly in love with you

this is lovely... last verse was unexpected... i liked it a lot

what words can you type when all your body desires is to smile and allow the tingles to slowly fade away? (thank you jim)

that would be the ones you just used, Stace...