Robin Hood

[Suu]

I accidentally left it on when I saw Clash of the Titans.

Do tell!  Or did I miss where you talked about it?

It's not worth it. It's a fantasy movie, not a historical one.

[Richter]

Please to note: He also has a scimitar. Obvious Eastern kit is obvious. Why? Robin Hood fought in the Crusades, that's why. Spoils of war from the Arabs and Turks.

There was enough trade going on throughout Europe that could have easily brought Eastern designs into use, however, into England is a bit different, because it would have had to travel quite far and England was always "behind the times" when it came to things such as weaponry and clothing until the Italians took over most of the trade from the Silk Road. At the time of Robin Hood (12th-13th century) the Byzantine Empire was still the stronghold of Eastern trade and a lot of goods didn't make it too far past the Holy Roman Empire. They were greedy and they didn't want the good stuff getting far. However, it's still not impossible, especially for Crusaders.

There were also several eastern - influenced european counterparts.  Polish sabers are a good example of this.

Not to mention that curved slicing and chopping swords were popular just about everywhere.  (falchions or grossemessers)

[Dysnomia]

...and don't even get me started on the movie. I'm going for pretty shinies, like Gladiator. I'm turning off the accuracy alarm when I go in to see it, because I accidentally left it on when I saw Clash of the Titans.

Yes, I was wondering what you thought of the movie.

But now I am a bit more curious to know what you think of TITANS THAT ARE CLASHING

[hooplala]

it's a miracle they all have such perfect teeth

I can't remember where, but I read somewhere that our concept of people in the Middle Ages having rotten teeth is pretty much a myth.  I seem to recall it said that their teeth were largely better than ours, due to not being exposed to refined sugar.

Now, mind you, I can't even recall where I read that, so take it for what its worth...

[Triple Zero]

makes sense. but there's also the straightness that the average American without a dental plan can't even afford.

[Doktor Howl]

makes sense. but there's also the straightness that the average American without a dental plan can't even afford.

And the hair.

[Suu]

Please to note: He also has a scimitar. Obvious Eastern kit is obvious. Why? Robin Hood fought in the Crusades, that's why. Spoils of war from the Arabs and Turks.

There was enough trade going on throughout Europe that could have easily brought Eastern designs into use, however, into England is a bit different, because it would have had to travel quite far and England was always "behind the times" when it came to things such as weaponry and clothing until the Italians took over most of the trade from the Silk Road. At the time of Robin Hood (12th-13th century) the Byzantine Empire was still the stronghold of Eastern trade and a lot of goods didn't make it too far past the Holy Roman Empire. They were greedy and they didn't want the good stuff getting far. However, it's still not impossible, especially for Crusaders.

There were also several eastern - influenced european counterparts.  Polish sabers are a good example of this.

Not to mention that curved slicing and chopping swords were popular just about everywhere.  (falchions or grossemessers)

Falchions were a Greek design that stuck around. Polish (and naturally, Lithuanian) swords got their design right from the Ottoman Empire. There was a lot of trade with the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom from Venice and Constantinople. This is why they were probably some of the best dressed people in Europe. Ask Tristan.  

it's a miracle they all have such perfect teeth

I can't remember where, but I read somewhere that our concept of people in the Middle Ages having rotten teeth is pretty much a myth.  I seem to recall it said that their teeth were largely better than ours, due to not being exposed to refined sugar.

Now, mind you, I can't even recall where I read that, so take it for what its worth...

They did brush their teeth. They didn't have the same technology we do now, but they did care for them the best they could. The nobles actually had worse teeth because they wouldn't eat as much calcium and other nutrients because milk and veggies were considered peasant food, but the peasants would get their teeth ground down over time from eating too much rough breads (the milling process often left little rocks in the dough).  Peasants were generally healthier as well. They weren't clean, but then again nobody was since it was a sign of piety, but they were more physically active and had a better diet by today's standards. Archaeological finds support this.

[Doktor Howl]

Life expectancy (minus infant mortality) was?

[Suu]

makes sense. but there's also the straightness that the average American without a dental plan can't even afford.

I believe I read somewhere that human teeth were actually straighter prior to the onset of severe inbreeding during the Renaissance and Enlightment. (HAPSBURG!!!!!!   ). Considering I have lines to Hapsburg/Trastamara and Tudor, I'm lucky I'm STILL not a slobbering idiot.

-Suu
Related to at least 80% of Europe. At least.

[Suu]

Life expectancy (minus infant mortality) was?

See also: Dislike of bathing for EVERYONE because some Byzantine monk thought it was a bad idea. Dirty = Jesus. The nobles believed this just as much as the peasants. Queen Isabella boasted that she only had 2 baths in her life, one being at birth, and one before her marriage.

Average life expectancy was in the 40s, women and infants had a higher mortality rate because of sepsis (Why? because they didn't wash their damn cooter before and after birth). Those that went above and beyond "The Law" lived longer. Like Eleanor of Aquitaine.

[Iason Ouabache]

I accidentally left it on when I saw Clash of the Titans.

Do tell!  Or did I miss where you talked about it?

It's not worth it. It's a fantasy movie, not a historical one.

I thought that you were going to start blogging all of this stuff.