Salmon declined severely after 1400. New study demonstrates that the culprit was the explosion in vertical water mills and not overfishing or contamination
Category: Medieval Articles
Studying Late Medieval History
Puzzled by the Later Middle Ages? New book offers help to under-graduates studying late medieval history, its institutions and way of life
Political Conflict in Medieval Cities
This book offers a new approach to the study of urban political conflict and revolt in six cities in Italy and the Southern Low Countries
Royal Manuscripts
Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination was the title of an exhibition hosted at the British Library in 2011. Now selected papers have been published
Spoon with Runes
RESEARCH: A silver-spoon from the early Merovingian period with both Latin and Runic inscriptions ...
Merovingian Afterlife
RESEARCH: 'Autopsies and Philosophies of a Merovingian Life' explores changing ideas...
The Introduction of Sails to Viking Scandinavia
The textiles necessary to outfit a Viking boat carrying a 100 man required nearly 30 times more “girl-power” than “man-power”. Further it created a whole new Scandinavian landscape characterized by heath grazed by sheep.
The Introduction of Sails to Scandinavia: Raw materials, labour and land.
By Lise Bender Jørgensen, Norwegian University of Science & Technology
In: N-TAG-TEN. Proceedings of the 10th Nordic TAG conference at Stiklestad, Norway 2009, Ed. by Ragnhild Berge, Marek E. Jasinski and Kalle Sognnes pp.173 – 184
Archaeopress 2012
ABSTRACT
The paper explores the logistical consequences of the introduction of sails to Scandinavia on the threshold to the Viking Age.Calculations stating that the sails of the Viking fleet comprised 1 million square meters of sailcloth form the starting point.
Data from experimental archaeology, ethnology, history, and textile science are used to calculate the demand for raw materials and labour caused by the need for sailcloth, and for additional textiles needed for seafaring such as sailor’s clothing and blankets. For a cargo ship of theknar type, this amounts to well over 200 kg wool and some 10 years of labour; for a warship with a crew of 65-70 men, more than 1,5tonnes of wool and 50-60 years of labour. Further data from botany and life sciences are employed to estimate the relationship between land and the increased demand for fiber – wool, flax or hemp.
It is argued that the introduction of sails to Scandinavia must have caused changes in agrarian production and how farmers disposed of their lands.
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Viking Sails
Hunnic Gold
RESEARCH: Gold used in the treasure from Nagyszéksós witness the widespread perambulations of the Huns...
The Templars’ Land
RESEARCH: The Knights Templars were efficient land-owners. But after 1308 new managers maltreated the land...
St. Ladislas in Medieval Continental Croatia
The Cult of St. Ladislas flourished in Medieval Croatia in the late Middle Ages
Safe-Conducts
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Cross-Dressing
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Heathen Danes
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Rollo and Danish
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Early Normandy
RESEARCH: Splendid overview of the history of Early Normandy and its cultural formation in Anglo-Norman Studies...
Dudo of St. Quentin
RESEARCH: Dudo's chronicle from the 11th century was essentially a didactic text, meant to teach courtly values...