Gerri Russell's Blog, page 7
June 20, 2010
Childbirth and Infancy in Medieval Times
In medieval times childbirth could be a time of great joy or great sorrow. Mortality rates for both mother and baby were high, and many children who lived through the birth died shortly thereafter.
During the delivery, some peasant women received help from female neighbors, others could rely only on their husbands. A woman of the merchan[image error]t or noble classes was attended by midwives and female relatives. The chamber would be dimly lit, and a warm bath prepared for the infant. Both measures were d...
June 17, 2010
Let's Celebrate Summer Contest
Summertime to me is a time for relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. Life just seems to go by at a slower pace as the days grow longer. So let's celebrate summertine with a contest!
Enter to win the Let's Celebrate Summer Contest at GerriRussell.net
The Question:
What were Alan and Jessamine searching for when they went to the Mountain of God?
The Hint:
Read the excerpt for Seducing the Knight to find the answer.
The Prize:[image error]
One grand prize winner will receive a summertime beach tote, beach...
June 13, 2010
The Medieval Castle
Throughout the Middle Ages, Europe's rulers built strongholds along the frontiers of their realm to guard against the constant threat of invasion. The earliest castles were earth-and-timber forts located along trade routes or likely avenues of attack. As kingdoms grew in power and wealth, these forts were replaced by massive permanent structures with thick stone walls.
The first requirement for a castle was that it be difficult to reach, and the easiest way to do that was to build in a...
June 9, 2010
Seducing the Knight Contest Winner Announced!
Congratulations to Lori P. of Hamlet, North Carolina who won the Seducing the Knight contest on GerriRussell.net! Lori, I hope you enjoy sharing this lovely tea set with your very own knight in shining armor.
[image error]If you didn't win this time around, there will be another chance starting Monday. Check back then for details on a fabulous new summertime contest!
–Gerri
©2010 Gerri Russell's Knightly Musings. All Rights Reserved.
.June 6, 2010
The Written Word
Being a lover of the written word, a writer, and a voracious reader…I decided to start the medieval history series with books in medieval times! For several hundred years after the collapse of the Roman Empire, book publishing and selling in Europe nearly ceased to exist. Sogreat was the decline of educational opportunity in this period that only the devotion of Christian monks and nuns stood in the way of the complete disappearance of literature. For me, that would truly be–"The[image error] Dark Ages" w...
May 30, 2010
Life & Times in the Medieval World: A New Blog Series
The term Medieval derives from the Latin words 'medium aevum' meaning the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages are so called as the middle period between the decline of the Roman Empire and prior to the period called the Renaissance. The early Middle Ages are often referred to as the Dark Ages, though the period was anything but dark.
[image error]Despite the fact that Medieval Times encompass one of the most turbulent periods in history, it was a time of great change, and of ideas, that laid the foundation for...
May 23, 2010
A Knight and His Heraldry
Heraldry is a form of symbolism that originated to help identify individuals or families in battle or in tournaments. With the advent of the barrel helm in the 13th century an individual's face became concealed. It therefore became necessary to create a method to distinguish ally from enemy.
Heraldic symbols ranged from simple geometric shapes such as chevrons, to more elaborate drawings of real or mythological animals. As with the honor of becoming a knight, heraldic insignia became...
May 16, 2010
A Knight and His Weapons
The sword was a standard fighting weapon long before the evolution of the medieval knight. Nevertheless, the medieval knight found the sword to be an effective weapon. Medieval swords usually were made from a low carbon stee[image error]l. Most swords were double-edged, and featured a crossguard, hilt, and pommel. Many surviving examples of medieval swords feature some form of engraving, such as a prayer, or the sword owner's name. How elaborate the sword was decorated depended upon its owner's wealth...
May 7, 2010
A Sweet Success!
A big thank you to all who attended the Seducing the Knight Launch Party last night at Sweet Decadence Chocolates in Newcastle, Washington. The venue could not have been more perfect, and the turnout was amazing! [image error]
The chocolates and wines were a definite highlight. Sandra Wixon, owner of Sweet Decadence, did a superb job pairing the wines with the perfect chocolates. I'll include the list here in case you'd like to find these Washington State wines on the market, or try your own pairings...
May 2, 2010
A Knight and His Armor
Protecting oneself in battle has always been a concern for any soldier, and medieval knights were no exception. In fact, it was their protective armor that helped define them as a military unit and social class. Armoring one's self during the Middle Ages was a great expense that only the wealthy could afford.
Among the earliest metallic armor to be worn by medieval knights was chainmail armor, consisting of tens of thousands of interlocking rings woven painstakingly by hand to form a shirt...
