Edward III, Crusades, Medieval in the news...

A brief round0-up of various recent news items dealing in some way with Edward III, the Crusades, etc.:

A rather perceptive and balanced article on the how and the why of Shakespeare's "new" play!
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/stage/story/DBA5AC98DD96803886257578007C3249?OpenDocument

And here's a brief notice about Alison Weir's new book on Katherine Swynford. I'm never quite sure about Weir's work, but it's always a good idea to know what projects she's working on...
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2009/032009/03152009/451157

Now, this is interesting: a short theater production consisting of Shakespearean and Marlowean (sic?) monologues about the Plantagenets. Worth a mention because of the way the article flippantly characterizes Edward III's reign as disastrous.
http://www.australianstage.com.au/component/option,com_events/Itemid,187/task,view_detail/agid,4415/year,2009/month,03/day,11/

Apparently The Church (no need to elaborate on which one) has re-introduced indulgences in some way, and scholars/theologians are trading shots about it. For the record, the sources (such as they are) are not agreed as to what Urban's spiritual program at Clermont was, precisely. Nor are scholars (which should come as no surprise, after all!)
http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9280&Itemid=53
And, just for quick reference: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-5vers.html

The quick-and-dirty history of backgammon:
http://www.grreporter.info/statiaen.php?mysid=1763&t=31&SESID=l92di2caelr6hlh5275tqpmku5

A Conservative MP's impassioned plea for teaching more British history in British schools; worth a glance, if only to spark debate about "national" curriculum.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/opinion/Andrew-Rosindell-This-nation-has.5072567.jp

Hmmm...here's an article from February by the apparently notorious K. Bristow...I hestitate to mention it, because it's more than slightly offensive; in fact, I'm not even going to link to it. It's under some crackpot "journal" called Global Politician. Anyway, I've never seen Godfrey of Bouillon (he spells it wrong in the article) and Richard I of England grouped with Franco, Cortes, and Ian Smith as "Western heroes". Suggestive of how medieval memory is kept alive, by some folks, anyway. Apparently this chap sometimes comments on articles under the name of "Godfrey of Bouillon," and led a group officially classified as a white-supremacist "hate group" (just what I've heard). And there are those who say that the Middle Ages isn't important or worth studying. Obviously some people think otherwise...hopefully "we" outnumber "them."

Ok, well, that was depressing. Here's the link for most of the latest news about the new Robin Hood movie with Russell Crowe: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/. I'm intrigued to see how this will turn out, though I'm afeared that they will take the easy road, rather than the original one. Either way, medievalists will stick it to poor Ridley, so he has nothing to lose, really. And, as he repeatedly points out, he's telling a story, not filiming a documentary, so he can do whatever he darn well wants!

Of polar bears, Frederick II, and medieval Greenlanders: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/polar-bears-and-canadians-linked-for-more-than-1000-years-41251637.html?viewAllComments=y

If one googles "Saracens" in the news, most of the results are for the British rugby team!

Ok, so put "medieval" into the search critieria, and things change. Various Italian cities are taking vigorous action to protect native Italian cuisine! Lucca apparently was the first, and Milan is thinking of following suit. A critical newspaper claims that "This is a new Lombard Crusade against the Saracens,” hence its mention here... http://www.nationalledger.com/ledgerdc/article_272625121.shtml

Apparently the Middle Ages were "mindless" in the violent tenor of society, at least according to MP Martin Salters. Not sure that he even knows what he's talking about...http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/03/12/10256-martin-salters-westminster-diary/

And finally, an interesting article about cave towns and remote dwellings in southern Italy, Matera, Sasso Caveoso and so on: http://www.canada.com/Travel/story.html?id=1036496.

Have a good week!

Medieval Martial Arts event

Something to note for September, if medieval martial arts are your thing. The Western Martial Arts Workshop, from September 10-13 this year, is bringing together an impressive group of instructors. I'm still trying to work out if I can afford to go, but it's tempting. For the skeptics among you, I would emphasize that this type of activity is as serious as karate, aikido, or kali escrima, and isn't the SCA (not that there's anything wrong with the SCA!!). Of course, there are a number of feasts and 'fun' activities, but the martial aspect is dangerous if you aren't paying attention (which last is not advised). Anyway, here's the link...

http://www.wmaw.us/2009/