screwyoumarvel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomhigh2010-02-04 11:12 pm
screwyoumarvel) wrote in fandomhigh2010-02-04 11:12 pm
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Battles That Changed History, Second Period, Friday 2/5
The students had handwavily been informed that they would be meeting in the Danger Shop today. When they arrived, they would find themselves in a mountain pass. Their teacher was standing next to a pile of red and blue jerseys, and another pile of assorted weaponry made out of Nerf foam. As the students entered they were advised to select a jersey.
"Welcome to Roncevaux Pass," Steve said once they were all assembled. "Modern-day Spain. It wouldn't have looked like this, exactly, but we'll take what we can get. This is an interesting battle; its actual impact on historical events has little to nothing to do with what actually happened here and a whole lot more to do with what people who weren't here would claim had happened hundreds of years later. The year is 788 AD. Charlemagne's forces meet with a Basque army. Charlemagne's army is defeated. His nephew, Roland, is killed, inspiring the famous Song of Roland. The Basque establish their independence." He paused. "Some people believe this was a battle between Christian forces, under Charlemagne, king of the Franks, and invading Muslim forces. This is not so. Both belligerents were Christian, in fact. Elsewhere, in other campaigns and other battles, Charlemagne did hold off the Muslim invasion, keeping them to Spain and keeping the rest of Europe Christian, which resulted in a lot of cultural developments on both sides and a lot of problems between the two religions regarding territory that persist to the present day. Charlemagne united Europe and helped set what it would be...but he didn't do it at Roncevaux. Here, he had a bad day. It's funny how legends get built, isn't it?
"So!" he clapped his hands. "Reds, you are the Franks. Blues, you are the Basques. Reds, see if you can change history. Blues, try to preserve it. Select your weapons, and begin."
"Welcome to Roncevaux Pass," Steve said once they were all assembled. "Modern-day Spain. It wouldn't have looked like this, exactly, but we'll take what we can get. This is an interesting battle; its actual impact on historical events has little to nothing to do with what actually happened here and a whole lot more to do with what people who weren't here would claim had happened hundreds of years later. The year is 788 AD. Charlemagne's forces meet with a Basque army. Charlemagne's army is defeated. His nephew, Roland, is killed, inspiring the famous Song of Roland. The Basque establish their independence." He paused. "Some people believe this was a battle between Christian forces, under Charlemagne, king of the Franks, and invading Muslim forces. This is not so. Both belligerents were Christian, in fact. Elsewhere, in other campaigns and other battles, Charlemagne did hold off the Muslim invasion, keeping them to Spain and keeping the rest of Europe Christian, which resulted in a lot of cultural developments on both sides and a lot of problems between the two religions regarding territory that persist to the present day. Charlemagne united Europe and helped set what it would be...but he didn't do it at Roncevaux. Here, he had a bad day. It's funny how legends get built, isn't it?
"So!" he clapped his hands. "Reds, you are the Franks. Blues, you are the Basques. Reds, see if you can change history. Blues, try to preserve it. Select your weapons, and begin."
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