The Archivist's Corner by Carolyn Emerick

Great Moravia: The Forgotten Kingdom of the Czechs

4/20/2017

Great Moravia was an important, if short lived, autonomous state in medieval Central Europe. It is important for many reasons, but among them because it is the first known kingdom of the Western Slavic tribes.

To say it is forgotten is somewhat misleading for Great Moravia is remembered and celebrated with great pride by the Czech and Slovak people. But it is forgotten by conventional Western history books.

Today, many of us who have European ancestry are taking it upon ourselves to discover the hidden histories of our ancestral heritage. Thus we begin this exploration of a medieval kingdom with immense importance to the people of Central Europe

Hildegard of Bingen: A Star Shining in Dark Ages

4/9/2017

A portrait of Hildegard in stained glass.

In an age where women were more likely to be taught spinning than reading, and were generally thought to be mentally interferer to men, most women not only lacked the desire to speak out - they also lacked the means.

Education was generally restricted to the elite classes, so that took a large portion of women (and men) out of the equation. Within the elite classes, it seems that a woman might have access to an education under certain conditions. If a girl was lucky enough to have a father who believed in her ability, he might provide access to learning. However, abbeys and convents were the institutions most likely to educate girls so they could read the scriptures.

As we can see, pathways to education were available to some women. However, then and now, a well developed mind does not guarantee acceptance by one’s peers. It appears there were women reading in abbeys and working as scribes, and yet so few had a voice that was heard beyond the four walls of their home or cell.

This is what makes Hildegard of Bingen so exceptional. She was fortunate to be handed certain privileges that set her apart and gave her opportunities to cultivate her intellectual talents. Hildegard took full advantage of these privileges, coupled with cunning strategy, to ascend beyond the limitations imposed by her society.

Tristan and Isolde: A Medieval Story of Love and Betrayal

4/7/2017

Tristan and Isolde by Herbert James Draper (1863–1920)

Arthurian legend is filled with epic tales of tragic romance. The ménage à trois of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot is the story most focused on in contemporary film and literature. Merlin and Vivienne have had their fair share of air time, albeit often as a subplot to the Arthur and Guinevere saga.

But, aside from a poorly received 2006 film, recent media has largely ignored the story of Tristan and Isolde. Since it is a legend that the reader may be unfamiliar with, we shall begin with a re-telling of the story, followed by historical analysis. It should be noted that this tale, like all of the legends in Arthuriana, has many variations.

Open the Timecapsule

Great Moravia: The Forgotten Kingdom of the Czechs

Hildegard of Bingen: A Star Shining in Dark Ages

Tristan and Isolde: A Medieval Story of Love and Betrayal

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Open the Timecapsule

Great Moravia: The Forgotten Kingdom of the Czechs

Hildegard of Bingen: A Star Shining in Dark Ages

Tristan and Isolde: A Medieval Story of Love and Betrayal

Archives

Categories

Do you believe European heritage should be preserved? Please support this ongoing work!

Bitcoin tips can be sent to:

Do you believe European heritage should be preserved?
Please support this ongoing work!