Categories: Travel & Events; Misc.

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Go Medieval, Stay in the States

By leigh
updated about 1 month ago

It's hard studying a different time period that took place on a different continent. Other than the occasional illuminated manuscript exhibit at a museum and the odd piece of art, there's not that much to see. Still, there are options when you're studying Medieval history (not the Renaissance Faire crap, the real stuff). Here are my favorite resources.

Best Medieval Parody

Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Politics

These guys were actually Medieval scholars, so they actually were doing some fantastic historical parody. Plus this movie is just funny as hell.

Best Museum

The Cloisters

1838 Riverside Dr, Manhattan, NY 10040

The Cloisters focuses on the art and architecture that dominated medieval Europe's Romanesque and Gothic periods. On ...
The Cloisters focuses on the art and architecture that dominated medieval Europe's Romanesque and Gothic periods. On display at the museum are some 5,000 pieces of medieval art, including tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, stained glass, sculpture and paintings. The Cloister is built to include architectural styles drawn from five medieval French cloisters. The museum, run by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is located in scenic Fort Tyron Park and overlooks the Hudson River.

The Cloisters

An adjunct building of the massive Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Cloisters is simply fantastic. Designed to imitate the feel of a real Medieval European cloister, there are quaint gardens and stone archways separating the various gallery areas. It is simply a must-see for any Medieval art, history or literature scholar.

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Inside The Cloisters

Best Read in its Original Form

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It takes some getting used to, but Middle English isn’t so hard to read, really.

“A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,
That fro the tyme that he first bigan
To riden out, he loved chivalrie,
Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie.”

Best Collegiate Gothic Architecture

A tie.

University Of Richmond

28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173

Okay, so I’m a little biased. But rumor has it the gargoyles on the tower on Jepson Hall are actually giant squirrels. And the architecture really is incredible.

Okay, so I’m a little biased. But rumor has it the gargoyles on the tower on Jepson Hall are actually giant squirrels. And the architecture really is incredible.

Gothic window b-w

Ryland Hall – University of Richmond

Boston College

885 Centre St Ofc, Newton Center, MA 02459

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Best Information in the Worst Layout

Medieval Sourcebook

Hordes of primary and secondary sources available for free… but the site is a pain to navigate.

 

Best Epic Poem

A tie.

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The most sweeping, expansive epic poem ever created. And he wrote it blind.

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Intense, compelling and horrific. Check out the related guide (link below).

What Would Dante Do? Sinful Destinations in Denver

Best (French) Medieval Romance

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If you read just one of his stories, read “Yvain: The Knight of the Lion.” Intelligent lions, giant monsters, bitter wives, it’s all there.

Best Film

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A Medieval crusader returning home plays chess with Death. Watch it in its original Swedish language with English subtitles.

Best Online Source

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Project Muse

An online resource for scholars in all fields, Project Muse was invaluable during my university studies. Archived articles from journals like “Milton Quarterly” and “Essays in Medieval Studies” gave me reputable sources for many of my papers.

Best Audio Source

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LibriVox

Again, not only dedicated to Medieval literature, LibriVox has free audio recordings of hundreds of books in the public domain. This includes a vast number of Medieval and Renaissance texts, including works like Dante’s “Inferno” and Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”

Brought to you by Guidespot.com Copyright 2008 - Local Matters Inc.

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