Medieval History
It sounds like the plot of a Dan Brown thriller: A powerful medieval pope makes a secret pact to prop up the fishing industry that ultimately alters global economics. The result: Millions of Catholics around the world end up eating fish on Fridays as part of a religious observance.
This "realpolitik" explanation of why Catholics eat fish on Friday has circulated for so long, many people grew up believing it as fact. Some, myself included, even learned it in Catholic school. It's a humdinger of a tale ? the kind conspiracy theorists can really sink their teeth into. But is it true?
"Many people have searched the Vatican archives on this, but they have found nothing," says Brian Fagan, a professor emeritus of archaeology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose book, Fish On Friday, explores the impact of this practice on Western culture.
The real story behind fish on Fridays turns out to be much better.
Click here to read this article from NPR
- World's 'oldest Fish Trap' Found Off Coast Of Sweden
Wooden fish traps said to be some 9,000 years old have been found in the Baltic Sea off Sweden, possibly the oldest such traps in existence. Marine archaeologists from Stockholm's Sodertorn University found finger-thick hazel rods grouped on...
- Researchers Look To Ancient Art To Study Mediterranean Fish
The dusky grouper has been a popular target for Mediterranean fishermen since prehistoric times ? their bones have been found in human settlements dating back more than 100,000 years. It?s a slow growing, flavourful and, with the advent of modern sport...
- Medieval Weir 'will Be Washed Away'
One of the finest examples of a medieval fish trap in Europe is going to be washed away before its secrets can be recorded, scientists have claimed. A 700-year-old giant wooden weir, once used by monks and to keep local lords in Co Clare trading, cannot...
- Jeff Sypeck's Applied Medievalism, Cont.
Our last blog forum entry has generated a great, stimulating discussion. I hope it continues. But, I also wanted to point people to some responses elsewhere. Dr. Nokes, of Unlocked Wordhoard, now has a response up. Highly Eccentric, of The Naked Philologist,...
- Why I Teach Medieval Lit Ii
The whole Dr. Crazy meme and Stanley Fish post and recent discussion of why I teach this or that which seems to be a response to the meme, has got me "taking stock" as they say. To begin, I have problems with the essence of the question.. (that question...
Medieval History
Lust, Lies And Empire: The Fishy Tale Behind Eating Fish On Friday
This "realpolitik" explanation of why Catholics eat fish on Friday has circulated for so long, many people grew up believing it as fact. Some, myself included, even learned it in Catholic school. It's a humdinger of a tale ? the kind conspiracy theorists can really sink their teeth into. But is it true?
"Many people have searched the Vatican archives on this, but they have found nothing," says Brian Fagan, a professor emeritus of archaeology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose book, Fish On Friday, explores the impact of this practice on Western culture.
The real story behind fish on Fridays turns out to be much better.
Click here to read this article from NPR
- World's 'oldest Fish Trap' Found Off Coast Of Sweden
Wooden fish traps said to be some 9,000 years old have been found in the Baltic Sea off Sweden, possibly the oldest such traps in existence. Marine archaeologists from Stockholm's Sodertorn University found finger-thick hazel rods grouped on...
- Researchers Look To Ancient Art To Study Mediterranean Fish
The dusky grouper has been a popular target for Mediterranean fishermen since prehistoric times ? their bones have been found in human settlements dating back more than 100,000 years. It?s a slow growing, flavourful and, with the advent of modern sport...
- Medieval Weir 'will Be Washed Away'
One of the finest examples of a medieval fish trap in Europe is going to be washed away before its secrets can be recorded, scientists have claimed. A 700-year-old giant wooden weir, once used by monks and to keep local lords in Co Clare trading, cannot...
- Jeff Sypeck's Applied Medievalism, Cont.
Our last blog forum entry has generated a great, stimulating discussion. I hope it continues. But, I also wanted to point people to some responses elsewhere. Dr. Nokes, of Unlocked Wordhoard, now has a response up. Highly Eccentric, of The Naked Philologist,...
- Why I Teach Medieval Lit Ii
The whole Dr. Crazy meme and Stanley Fish post and recent discussion of why I teach this or that which seems to be a response to the meme, has got me "taking stock" as they say. To begin, I have problems with the essence of the question.. (that question...