By Ruth A. Johnston
All issues Medieval: An Encyclopedia of the Medieval World covers the widest definition of "medieval Europe" attainable, no longer by means of masking background within the conventional, textbook demeanour of directory wars, leaders, and demanding old occasions, yet by means of providing certain alphabetical entries that describe the artifacts of medieval Europe. via interpreting the hidden fabric tradition and through providing information regarding themes that few books cover—pottery, locks and keys, sneakers, weaving looms, barrels, toys, pets, ink, kitchen utensils, and masses more—readers get important insights into the character of existence in the course of that point interval and area.
The heartland eu areas similar to England, France, Italy, and Germany are coated generally, and knowledge in regards to the items of areas comparable to Byzantium, Muslim Spain, and Scandinavia also are incorporated. for every subject of fabric tradition, the access considers the total scope of the medieval period—roughly 500-1450—to provide the reader a historic point of view of similar traditions or innovations and describes the craftsmen and instruments that produced it.
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Additional info for All Things Medieval: An Encyclopedia of the Medieval World
Sample text
Although armor was made locally in all parts of Europe, the finest armor 24 Armor always came from Milan. When trends changed, they changed first in Milan. In the 1280s, the Milanese armorers began to reinforce mail with plates to block arrows at key points. By 1340, they viewed plate armor as their main product and supplementary mail as a secondary product. The wealthiest aristocrats and kings ordered armor from Milan. Milan-trained armorers were enticed to move elsewhere, bringing their knowledge.
Tournament helms were often beaked in front so they would turn a lance’s point to the side. Closed great helms were less and less used on the battlefield. A more practical battlefield helmet looked more like a hat with a brim; blows from above, such as from a mounted knight or a descending arrow, would glance off. It was used extensively by infantry soldiers during the 12th century and after. It was variously called a chapel de fer or war hat. It did not protect the wearer’s face, but it also did not restrict vision at all.
Emperor Frederick II of Germany himself wrote a treatise on the care of falcons, taking a scientific approach. His Master of Stables wrote a similar work on the care of horses that examined their common ailments and discussed how best to manage them. Veterinary medicine may have moved beyond Aristotle more quickly than human medicine, abandoning the four humors theory in favor of pragmatic therapies. Domesticated Animals Domesticated animals of the Middle Ages were the same kinds we still have on our farms and in our homes, although the animal breeds were somewhat different.