Knights and Chivalry

Information about knights and chivalry is found here.
1.Who would normally become a knight?
2.From what you know, name another option for the person above to do instead of becoming a knight
3.How would school be like becoming a page and squire?.
Europe in the Middle Ages was fragmented and violent, so the thought that all knights lived by a common, kind code is wishful thinking. Still, an idealized code existed and was put into song during the Middle Ages. Here is the code.
4.Why would a song be a more effective way to transmit information about the code than writing it down?
According to the Code
5.What 2 things must a knight live by?
6.What must a knight always keep?
7.What is the only thing a knight fears (besides Fiery Warrior Sienna)?
Be prepared to tell what eschew and succor means.

St. George

As mentioned in class, St. George's Day is today. If you lived in Newfoundland, you wouldn't be in class right now.

 It is also a big deal in England, and this song is commonly played. The song is also the anthem of the Common Wealth Games. 

Here in Winnipeg we have a school named after St. George. Several countries, including Britain, have St. George's cross on their flag. We will look at the legend. 

Trigger Warning: The legend involves a dragon and a fair maiden in distress.



Above is the Golden version of the tale of St. George. Here is another version, the non-golden version, Read facts in brief.  This older version has no dragon or fair maiden, and George is imprisoned, tortured and executed by the Romans.

Here is a more modern take on the legend



1. Why would there be different versions of this legend and other legends? Think of at least 2 reasons.

2. Which version of this legend do you like the best, and why.

The Middle Ages

Read here to find what your life probably would have b+een like in the Middle Ages, view the information given below and pay attention during class discussions to complete your sheet The Middle Ages.

Tithe Barn

Crux House

Life in the Middle Ages

Click on this link and read the article. Answer the following questions
1.Who owned the land?
2.What was the basis of wealth in the early Middle Ages?
3. A visit of a Lord to a Vassal could be very expensive. Why?
4.Explain the logic about how a serf could gain his/her freedom
5. Browse some manor houses and castles here
6. What is a trencher and how many people would share one?

Epic Family

Our Epic House

Our Epic acre of farming land

If done early

With our book, Freak the Mighty, we talked about King Arthur, the Once and Future king. Here is a link to his story. 

Interactive Map to explore

Explore the interactive map  here , which is chock full of information. Get a sense of how Rome broke up, what took its place, and how Kingdoms evolved and reflect present day Europe. 

Your Coat of Arms

We are going to make a shield with a coat of Arms.

For your coat of arms, make it about yourself. You may wish to incorporate the meaning behind your name from an earlier lesson onto the coat of arms. You may also wish to include the knighted name you picked for yourself, and the oath you took.

Pick a template from the pick up box. Put things on it that represent the best about you. Most coats of arms have Latin on them, Canada's coat of arms has "desiderantes meliorem partial" and  "a mari usque ad mare" Put some latin on your Coat of Arms. Here is a link to translate English into Latin. Here is a list of some famous latin mottos that you may wish to adapt.

Look at the meaning below of various colours and symbols. Like stain glass windows, most people, who couldn't read, would be looking at the shield and gathering meaning through the colours and symbols.

Post your shield, as a jpg, onto kidblog along with a paragraph explaining why you chose the colours, saying and symbols that you did.
Have the teacher print out your shield in colour and then paste it onto some cardboard fastened with some string to hang from your neck for our Medieval Feast.

On the Road to Knighthood

Knighthood today is an honour title that give a person the right to be called Sir (or Dame). If you are a Canadian citizen, this below can't happen to you.

Read about this ancient ritual and position of honour here 

1. What  movie  series, 9 or 10 now, with another soon to be released, where the villains keep trying to create a death star, having to do with wars in the stars, puts it own twist on knights?

2. What would the equivalent be in this move to a Page?

To be a knight in times of old, many things had to be done, as outlined in the reading linked above. The last step was an oath taken by the Knight, oath below. Then the flat of a sword or the flat of the hand was struck upon the shoulder of the person  and the words "I dub thee Sir Knight" were spoken. 

Dubbing Oath of Medieval Knights

I Will Never traffic with traitors.

I will Never give evil counsel to a lady.

I will observe fasts and abstinence's, and every day hear Mass and make an offering in Church.

3. You must pass this test before becoming a Knight

4. Use the dubbing oath above or come up with your own dubbing oath.  Have someone knight you and post your Knight name below. 

Your Name

Many of our names can be traced back to the Europe during the Middle Ages. Can you trace your name back? Here is a link that might help to look up your last name(surname) and/or here and here is a link to look up your first name (Would have been called your Christian name in Medieval Europe and when I went to school here in Winnipeg).  Names have historical significance and a literal meaning. Feel free to blog below the significance and/or the meaning behind your name. and to use your name in your knighting ceremony. 

The Vikings

Some more information here about the vikings

 1. About what time period did the vikings travel throughout Europe?
2. What piece of technology enabled the vikings to be such successful traders and raiders?
3. What did most Viking men do for a living?
4. What information did you find to be the most interesting? 
5. Your ticket out is to have a successful viking quest. 
Bonus- What is your theory of the round towers of Ireland?