Medieval History
Medieval knights are often depicted as bloodthirsty men who enjoyed killing. But that is a completely wrong picture, new research shows.
The knights did not kill just because they wanted to, but because it was their job ? precisely like soldiers today. Nor were the Middle Ages as violent as we think, despite their different perception of violence compared to ours.
?Modern military psychology enables us to read medieval texts in a new way ? giving us insight into the perception of violence in the Middle Ages in the general population and the use of lethal violence by knights,? says Thomas Heebøll-Holm of the SAXO Institute at the University of Copenhagen, who researches the perception of violence in the late Middle Ages.
?Previously, medieval texts were read as worshipping heroes and glorifying violence. But in the light of modern military psychology we can see the mental cost to the knights of their participation in the gruesome and extremely violent wars in the Middle Ages.?
Click here to read this article from ScienceNordic
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Medieval History
Violent knights feared posttraumatic stress
The knights did not kill just because they wanted to, but because it was their job ? precisely like soldiers today. Nor were the Middle Ages as violent as we think, despite their different perception of violence compared to ours.
?Modern military psychology enables us to read medieval texts in a new way ? giving us insight into the perception of violence in the Middle Ages in the general population and the use of lethal violence by knights,? says Thomas Heebøll-Holm of the SAXO Institute at the University of Copenhagen, who researches the perception of violence in the late Middle Ages.
?Previously, medieval texts were read as worshipping heroes and glorifying violence. But in the light of modern military psychology we can see the mental cost to the knights of their participation in the gruesome and extremely violent wars in the Middle Ages.?
Click here to read this article from ScienceNordic
- 6 Ridiculous Myths About The Middle Ages Everyone Believes
From Cracked.com.... When you think of the Middle Ages, chances are you picture gallant knights sitting astride brilliant destriers galloping through a sea of plagues, ignorance, and filth. And you can hardly be blamed for that, when everything from...
- Poland's Medieval Love Affair For Knights
There is something about summer that makes some Poles clamour to slip into chain mail or flowing dresses and pretend to be medieval knights and damsels. During the holiday season there is a knights' tournament or battle re-enactment every weekend....
- On Heroes
Via Unlocked Wordhoard, Old English in NY has a meditation on modern heroism (inspired by the recent spate of films on Beowulf). There are some interesting things here, including the discussion that continues in the comments and a link to the artist Martin...
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