Monday, April 9, 2012

H is for Nerd

I got my bachelors in History. I specifically studied, Medieval Religions History, and if you want to get even more specific, I studied the ways different cultures/religions interacted with one another in the medieval period. Although the term, Medieval or Dark Age’s as a way to describe Europe from the fall of Rome to the 14th century (or whenever you decide it ends) is kind of contested. I mean the term was coined by a 14th century poet named Petrarch.
Section of the Bayeux Tapestry
But I think I’m off my point. My point is I like history. I read history books for fun. And not just Medieval history. Although it is probably my favorite period of history. I also enjoy reading/learning about WWI…and possibly have perfected how to teach it, at least to middle schoolers. It goes something like “Some black hungry guy named Archie shot the Duke’s Ostrich”

And I think, I’m drawn to both time periods because they are periods of exceptional change. I mean in the Medieval period, you have the Goths, the Barbers, the Franks…etc pushing through Europe, organizing, fighting, and reorganizing into new kingdoms, and new laws, some of which were exceptionally violent. You have Christianity reaching out and attempting to impose order amongst the chaos, you have the founding of Monasteries. You have the reorganization of people’s into villages and the emergence of a feudal society.

In Spain you have what looks like an early Renaissance under Moorish and Gothic rule (The Ornament World). In Parts of the Italian Peninsula, and the Middle East you have different sects of religion emerging, and claiming Christianity, some of which are so unlike anything we have today, they might as well be worshiping aliens (Google Manichaeism Cosmology if you don’t believe me).

This isn’t even mentioning the Black Plague, or the Crusades.

In the years leading up to WWI you have probably, the most rapid change in technology, paired with some of the most rapid changes in social structure that you’ll ever find (if you want to know more read The Strange Death of Liberal England by George Dangerfield ). Case in point: In 1914, in Russia there was a conference, of which name I cannot remember, where the leaders in Europe, mostly still Monarchs, who were all related through Victoria Queen of England (she had 26 grandchildren who survived into adulthood), came together with their advisors to discuss technological advances and War. At which point, a German suggested they ban people going up into hot air balloons, and dropping projectiles on enemy lines. He was laughed out of the conference. Less than a year and a half later, you see this exact thing happening on the battle fields in Europe, something people thought impossible only a year prior.

You have Horses charging alongside tanks. You have books published about the war, written by veterans of the war, translated into all of the languages of the people fighting in the war, and available in those countries before the war was over (Under Fire by Henri Barbusse)

Now, what is my point, other than perhaps the fact that I am a super nerd, and I just completely nerded out on you?

History can be a great and awesome and scary source of inspiration. Plus, a lot of fantasy is written in a type of Medieval Europe setting, and a lot of writers have only a basic fundamental understanding of how Medieval Europe worked.

And I love history. And there are some great resources out there for those of you who also love history. For example, recently I found this: Yale Open Classroom Early Middle Ages http://oyc.yale.edu/history/hist-210 .

If you’re curious about books, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do to recommend some, I have way more than I mentioned, and forgive me if I mentioned anything out of print.

26 comments:

  1. I love history!

    I love Ken Follett. He takes historical events and puts in fictional characters. Fall of Giants is his most recent. But World Without End and Pillars of the Earth are awesome as well.

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    1. Hey Kelley! I haven't read Fall of Giants but I've been meaning to. I really enjoyed World Without End and Pillars. I liked to think the were about Durham Cathedral (http://www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/) which started in 1093 ...but I dont think it is. Although Alison Weir is probably my favorite Historical Fiction author right now.

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  2. History is fascinating for me, too, although I'm not as versed in it as you. You've shared some amazing things here, including the link to the Yale Open Classroom. The classes I seemed to do my best in were European Civilization and Ancient Middle East and Asia.

    Great blog. Here's to being Nerds.

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    1. I love that Yale has an open classroom...they also have a few English Lit courses which is really nice, but I prefer the Economics and History courses.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I *almost* have a minor in history. I lack one class. :/ I do love history, too. I feel it definitely helps me with my books in understanding human nature, especially.

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    1. I've always said I love history because its a study of what motivates people through time.

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  4. I'm a complete history nerd too. I love a great historical novel that shows the author did their research. I would write it myself, but I'm afraid of getting the facts wrong. That's why I created a post-apocalyptic world where I could recreate some of those same geopolitical situations that occurred during medieval times but not worry about getting the names of battle mixed up or have someone using a fork when they weren't invented yet. Basically I'm a lazy writer. :PP

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    1. LOL I'm totally with you on that. I wrote a historical fiction short story once, and I got so bogged down with the research I swore--never again!

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  5. Oh history was one of my least favorite subjects.

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    1. Really? Were you one of those maths people? Although perhaps I shouldn't talk cause I liked math too.

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  6. History was always my worst subject except for two specific things: witches and plagues, and WWII Holocaust. Other than in those two areas, I am not even smarter than a 5th grader. (I shouldn't be admitting this, should I?)

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    1. I cant do basic math in my head. You're in good company.

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  7. I bet you could write a wicked medieval fantasy series like Game of Thrones.

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    1. Trying. Although there is only so much history can tell us, and everything else is left up to the imagination.

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  8. I love history, and had a college professor who tried to talk me into switching my major to history because I have a nose for facts and figures from the past. :D

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    1. Its a useful skill, although as a history major,unless your planning on teaching, its not a super useful degree. What did you study instead?

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  9. History is amazing and engrossing. I read mostly horror but every now and then I'll read a non-fiction that has peaked my curiosity but mostly I learn my history through the History channel and wikipedia. Sad but effective. =)

    Nice post.
    From Diary of a Writer in Progress

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    1. I love the History Channel, although a lot of there stuff recently has seemed a bit off the deep end, dealing with aliens.

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  10. I enjoy reading history and historical fiction as well. Come to think of it, all history is historical fiction in someone's eyes. After all, history is simply 'his story' of an account that happened and not necessarily true.

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    1. True, although I think Historical Fiction writers have a bit more flexibility. Its like, well we have no documentation for what happened here, or what was said. I think I'll make it up, vs history where they are supposed to at least back it up, however, they have no way of knowing if the historical document in question is a bit of historical fiction. I think I just confused myself.

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  11. I just read the details about Ferninand's assassination a few weeks ago and my mind was entirely blown. I'm marking you down as a resource for future reference.

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    1. WWI is truly fascinating. It's a shame they don't really teach it in schools anymore. Reading about it is always so cool cause its a bit like, wow, people really did these things?

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  12. I agree about history. I'm into the Colonial Period - War of 1812. I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.

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    1. I'm making an effort to visit them all too...its slow going but oh so much fun.

      For my job now I've read a good bit more about Colonial history, and the American revolution. All fascinating stuff.

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  13. I love history too. And right now is an exciting time because so much in the world is changing, we are like front and center to the dawning of a new age.

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    1. Its so true. Although I've begun to wonder if the ages of history are beginning to blend together for our lifetimes.

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