History of Medieval England - Thursday 6th Period: Discussion 3: Why 1066 Was Such a Big Deal

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

All right, everyone. I spent an hour on Tuesday talking about the Battle of Hastings and 1066. Now we're going to discuss it. It completely changed the government and culture of England in a violent and abrupt manner

For your homework, I'd like you to pick a section of the Bayeux Tapestry and tell me what's happening in it, in terms of what was going on in England and Normandy at the time. At least one hundred words or handwave, please. Please feel free to expound on social or cultural matters portrayed in the tapestry, if you like.

OOC Note: The linked website is a bit overdesigned in my opinion, but it is quite good. ETA: Here is another site with less bells and whistles. http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/bytype/textiles/bayeux/
And here's a scrolling Shockwave version: http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/osehnctapestry.html

[[OCD threads are up! Go for it!]]

Comments

ATTENDANCE: Sign In: MED3

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Please sign in below the person before you.

Re: ATTENDANCE: Sign In: MED3

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana signs in.

DISCUSSION: MED3

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

All right. 1066. Questions? Comments? Arguements? Which side are you on, the Saxons or the Normans?

Re: DISCUSSION: MED3

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Can I be on the side of the peasants?" Lana says with a half smile. "Actually, I feel for the Saxons, but William of Normandy was pretty amazing. You have to give him credit for his drive and determination."

Re: DISCUSSION: MED3

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Saxons. The Normans were just greedy. Which usually I'd applaud, and they *did* win. However... the Saxons did such a damn good job while overpowered, I have to give it to them."

Re: DISCUSSION: MED3

[swerval_zero]

"Saxons. Poor grinders had to fight one enemy, then turn around an' fight another. That's just not on."

Re: DISCUSSION: MED3

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

"Saxons, they just kept fighting no matter what."

Re: DISCUSSION: MED3

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

"The Normans," Lee says, just to be contrary.

TALKING IN CLASS: MED3

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Or throw notes. Or fall asleep.

Re: TALKING IN CLASS: MED3

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron's really not in the mood to add to the discussion. He does end up staring at people stabbing each other with swords and spears and might be imagining stabbing a certain vampire.

Re: TALKING IN CLASS: MED3 - Announcement

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Or, you know, make an announcement.

"I feel compelled, yes, compelled, to tell the class: I love Principal Smith. Because of this? I am waving my little flag for him and Miho," Parker waved the felt flag she'd gotten from Jaye the day before, in all its glittery glory, "in hopes that true love triumphs, in spite of whatever skinny teenagers or pirates may come on the scene. Thank you for your support."

Yeah, she's lost it.

AFTER CLASS: MED3

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Ask the questions you didn't want to ask in front of the whole class.

Re: AFTER CLASS: MED3

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Dr. Pierson? Could I pick up a copy of the assignment for Vala Mal Doran? She's in the clinic."

HOMEWORK: MED3

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Look at the Bayeau Tapestry (http://hastings1066.com/baythumb.shtml). Pick a panel. Tell me what you see. (Please include at least the number of the panel, if not a link to the actual panel.)

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana writes 100 or so thoughtful words on Panel 22 (which the website refused to actually show her.)

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Part 16 (http://hastings1066.com/bayeux16.shtml)

Harold was crowned king on January 6. In the spring, near Easter, a comet appears in the sky. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (http://omacl.org/Anglo/part5.html) describes the event: "Easter was then on the sixteenth day before the calends of May. Then was over all England such a token seen as no man ever saw before. Some men said that it was the comet-star, which others denominate the long-hair'd star. It appeared first on the eve called 'Litania major', that is, on the eighth before the calends of May; and so shone all the week"

It was Halley's Comet, and this was considered a bad omen. In the Tapestry, an attendant rushes to tell Harold of the celestial happening as he sits upon his throne. The comet appears at the upper left. The portrayal acquires a sense of foreboding as empty long boats appear below the scene. These no doubt presage the invasion fleet William will employ to cross the Channel. The Tapestry implies that the appearance of the comet expresses God's wrath at Harold for breaking his oath to William and assuming the throne. Retribution will be found in the invasion fleet.

This section of the Tapestry also shows the news of Harold's ascension to the throne being delivered to William by the single ship in the middle, which then leads to the building of the fleet.

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[upforachase.livejournal.com]

Cordy writes around 100 words on Panel 17 (http://hastings1066.com/bayeux17.shtml),which may have mainly focused on what was between that guys legs. Is it a huge piece of wood? Why is it so phallic? The guy getting out of the boat kinda looks funny. There is occasionally some actual historical introspection.

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[swerval_zero]

Zero turns 100 words on Panel 11. From what her mun saw before the window decided to crash and freeze Firefox for her, it involves a boat. Zero is much more eloquent about it.

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

HIC EST WADARD. HIC COQUITOR CARO. ET HIC MINISTRAVERUNT MINISTRI.
"Here is Wadard. Here meat is cooked. Here servants serve the food." Panel 22.

Wherever Wadard is, they're gathering animals for slaughter, there are crops in the background, and a couple servants (I assume) have a kettle of soup or stew on over the fire. There's a guy barbequing, another guy taking what I think is supposed to be sausage out of the smokehouse, and one guy who might be about to slaughter a pony. God, I hope not. Oh, and a knight just sort of riding through, la la la. No women. Why are there no women working in the kitchen? I ask you.

The details are great, though, and I have to admit it's very easy to get a sense of a part of the story this way.

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy writes about two hundred or so (she doesn't count, just writes) words on what she thinks when she looks at the very first panel. (http://hastings1066.com/bayeux1.shtml)

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron describes his chosen panel (http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/laserdisk/0214/21452.JPG) because the other webiste is being difficult and seems to spend a whole lot attention to the poking people in the eye part.

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Vala's eye is caught oh, shush! by Panel 31, The Death of King Harold (http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/laserdisk/0214/21452.JPG).

She goes on at length about how dumb it is to have someone who is killed by an arrow in the eye standing there calmly pulling it out, because the only way a projectile in the eye would kill you would be to go right through to your brain, and therefore you'd be instantly dead and crumpled on the ground, not standing there all calmly trying to pull it out, and had these people actually ever been in a battle or what?

Re: HOMEWORK: MED3

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

Lee choose this panel (http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/Bayeux21.htm) and discusses the importance of eating a good meal if you're to keep up your strength as a warrior. Yes.

OOC: MED3

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

.

Re: OOC: MED3

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*bounces at the Battle of Hastings*

Although I never got a chance to actually see the Tapestry itself.