Medieval History, Heroes, and Legends with Prof. Dorsey Armstrong

The enduring legacy of the Middle Ages includes extraordinary advances in philosophy, science, literature, and more, and this period also produced some of the Western cultures most beloved and influential legends—ones that continue to resonate with modern audiences. Join Great Courses Professor Dorsey Armstrong, on December 16 at 1 PM ET to discover the thinkers, stories, and champions who profoundly influenced the medieval and subsequent eras.

See Professor Armstrong's Courses Here!

3rd & 7 37yd

Interest in medieval history seems to run in cycles, peaking for a few years and then declining. (It's always been of interest to me!) Where are we now... is interest among students increasing or decreasing?

by James Van Dongen 12/16/2015 7:12:46 PM

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Professor Armstrong,
Where are the major efforts in research for the Arthurian period focused? Is most of the information being obtained from archaeological sites? I presume most of the written archives have been thoroughly evaluated already. Or are they still yielding information?

by Dan Quain 12/16/2015 7:15:23 PM

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In 1191, the monks at Glastonbury Abbey began an excavation of the supposed tomb of the legendary King Arthur. The monks discovered a coffin made out of a hollow log, inside of which were the remains of a very large man who had a visible wound in his skull from an ax or sword blow. Could this have been King Arthur? Learn more!
Learn more in "Turning Points in Medieval History"
King Arthur is thought to have been a real, historical figure. Learn more in "The Medieval World"

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 12/16/2015 7:16:12 PM

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How did people travel from place to place especially long distances?

by Carl B 12/16/2015 7:17:30 PM

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Professor Armstrong,you really bring your courses to life and I have enjoyed each one of them. (Thank you!)
Which is your favorite?

by nataliar@cox.net 12/16/2015 7:19:39 PM

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Professor Armstrong's courses are now on sale! Find them here and never stop learning!

by TheGreatCourses 12/16/2015 7:22:17 PM

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In your Great Minds Course, you mention that before moving to Paris to be tutored by Abelard, Heloise received a first class education in a well-endowed convent. Also, that she believed that marriage was unnecessary for those those joined in mind and spirit. How did she come to be raised in the convent? And given the fact that she was a girl, although a brilliant one, how was she allowed to study philosophical works that led her to her views on marriage?

by Stana 12/16/2015 7:22:37 PM

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I understand that the romance of Lancelot and Guinevere is a later addition to the King Arthur story. Did the author have a basis for including this in his version or did he just make it up?

by Marsha Price 12/16/2015 7:27:56 PM

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We've received an abundance of questions for Professor Armstrong, and she has graciously agreed to answer more of your questions within the next week. We will add them to the chat transcript. Check back here to see additional questions answered.

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 12/16/2015 7:28:27 PM

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Thank you. Great job . . .

by Doug 12/16/2015 7:30:16 PM

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Thanks everyone! It’s been a pleasure! As Sir Thomas Malory might say, “flourish your heart in this world!”

by Dorsey Armstrong 12/16/2015 7:31:14 PM

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Thank you so much for joining us today. A special thank you goes out to Professor Armstrong for taking the time and providing us with such insightful answers to your questions. We would love your feedback on the chat this afternoon and hope you will join us for future chats with our Great Courses instructors.

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 12/16/2015 7:31:31 PM

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I subscribe to Arthuriana but much of it is over my head. Is there an outlet where scholars in the field write for the educated public?

by Roger Donway 12/22/2015 6:55:34 PM

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I really hate doing rewrites on my papers; do you have any advice to make it easier?

by Isabel 12/22/2015 6:56:04 PM

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Was Robin Hood based on a real historical figure?

by Isabel 12/22/2015 6:57:17 PM

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Is there an author or book from or about the medieval period that you would recommend to a 7th grader?

by Isabel 12/22/2015 6:58:41 PM

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Perhaps a dumb question (because you might have covered this or it might be general knowledge), but was King Richard of the Crusades patterning himself after the legendary Arthur?

by Doug 12/22/2015 6:59:20 PM

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Any thoughts on Shakespeare's maligning of Macbeth?

by Tonyoconnor1234@aol.com 12/22/2015 6:59:49 PM

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When you examine an ancient document, how do you determine if it's fact or fiction?

by Augusy 12/22/2015 7:00:14 PM

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Love your couses as well - I am an early middle ages junkie, and can't get enough. I know that we have limited information available to us from the first millennium from Europe, where we had wood buildings, not stone, and a limited number of literate individuals around to tell the story. But I would love to have more of an understanding of wht daily life was like. Wht tools did they use, what was daily life like, what clothes did they wear, how often did they take a bath, etc., etc.

by Frank 12/22/2015 7:01:38 PM

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Do you have particular favorite fictional authors who set their stories in the historical/geographical periods you study?

by slarrow 12/22/2015 7:01:54 PM

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What do you think of professor Francis Pryor's theory that there was no real Anglo-Saxon invasion, but a slow steady migration as stated in the BBC documentary "King Arthur's Briton"?

by Paul Strinel 12/22/2015 7:02:26 PM

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Dominican Friars were forbidden to ride animals so they walked from place to place. Were there established routes? Did they require protection?

by Carl B 12/22/2015 7:02:48 PM

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What role did luck play in some of the greatest battles of the Middle Ages? E.g., the Battle of Hastings in 1066 when William could have just as easily lost were it not for luck.

by Bob F 12/22/2015 7:03:07 PM

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As I try to instill my love of history in my children, I am always looking for reading material to assist me. Could you recommend something definitive on Eleanor of Aquitaine?

by J.D. 12/22/2015 7:04:01 PM

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Whatever got you interested in the Middle Ages ?- my high school in the early 60s completely skipped this period from the Fall of Rome until maybe the Reformation.

by Thomas N. Helget 12/22/2015 7:04:23 PM

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In your Middle Ages course you state that Clovis's army offered to convert to Christianity. But another lecturer in another courses puts it the other way around, that Clovis ordered hit forces into the river to be baptized. What is the evidence for either version?

by James Brown 12/22/2015 7:06:06 PM

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Greetings! I very much enjoyed your courses. I'm mostly of Hungarian ancestry with some Czech and Serbian. I'm curious as to why there is so little attention given to Eastern Europe during the Medieval period, as that part of Europe made many significant contributions.

by George Orban 12/22/2015 7:06:22 PM

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Apparently, Morte D'Arthur is a romance and not particularly a novel. I am aware that novels started roughly in the eighteenth century with, I think, Clarissa. My question is, there is some debate. or I have an idea that there is a debate, the Nathaniel Hawthorne's 4 books are romances properly, and thus are not novels? Do you know of this item?

by Victor Ochoa 12/22/2015 7:08:28 PM

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Love your course: Analysis and Critique. I have a question about getting professionals, not associated with my current institution, interested in my book, my dissertation. I live thirty miles from the University of Illinois, where I have earned two degrees. I cannot yet get anyone to read my dissertation thus far written, or to engage in me any way about it, because I am presumably "no longer associated with this institution". How do I break down specious barriers and prejudices? Thank you, professor. Otherwise signed, Disappointed in Danville (IL).

by Victor Ochoa 12/22/2015 7:08:59 PM

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How did people know when to wake up for a dawn departure?

by William of Suffolk 12/22/2015 7:10:57 PM

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The Medieval Ages are such a fascinating time period. Are the opportunities for employment for students who study that time period in a college program and/or advance degree once they graduate?

by Karigraphy 12/22/2015 7:11:47 PM

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Would you discuss the importance of the Irish monks spreading knowledge throughout Europe? How important was this? What was the extent of dissemination? etc

by Susan Moore 12/22/2015 7:12:05 PM

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I can trace my geneaology to Charlemagne, Lady Godiva and Henry II

by Gary Thompson 12/22/2015 7:12:25 PM

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Was there an actual "dark" period during the early Medieval period? When did this period begin, and when did civilization start to come back? If there was no dark period, then why do we say renaissance — rebirth? Rebirth of what?

by Robert Stell 12/22/2015 7:12:53 PM

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What was the attitude of the medieval Church officially toward the Arthurian legend, other than some abbeys/monasteries trying to profit from a spurious connection?

by Jan L Heinrichs 12/22/2015 7:13:18 PM

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why do you think the moniker "dark ages" is so often repeated? Clearly there was a tremendous amount of thought produced during this period, much of it in the religious arena. ... Marc has just asked the same question in a different way!

by md 12/22/2015 7:13:36 PM

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What geographical area was most impacted when the Black Death/swept though Europe? My guess is the Germanic states sincce this area is so large. I very much enjoy your courses.

by Michael Niebauer 12/22/2015 7:13:58 PM

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Thank you so much for joining us this evening. A special thank you goes out to Professor Armstrong for taking the time to provide us with such insightful answers to your questions. We hope you will join us for future chats with our Great Courses instructors.

by TheGreatCourses 12/15/2016 6:52:00 PM

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We’ve received an abundance of greetings from all over. Welcome everyone! Thanks for sharing your location and saying hello.

by TheGreatCourses 12/15/2016 6:52:00 PM

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We apologize, we are currently experiencing technical difficulties. We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

by TheGreatCourses 12/15/2016 6:52:00 PM

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Just a friendly reminder, this chat is text only. We do not have a video or audio format enabled.

by TheGreatCourses 12/15/2016 6:52:00 PM

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We request that our participants please use appropriate language in this forum.

by TheGreatCourses 12/15/2016 6:52:00 PM

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Thank you to everyone who participated in the live chat with Professor Dorsey Armstrong on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. Professor Armstrong truly enjoyed the chance to connect with her fans and students. In case you didn’t get a chance to participate, we’ve posted the live chat for everyone to read. Thanks again!

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 12/15/2016 6:52:00 PM

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We’ve received a number of great submissions. Thanks for your patience as Professor Armstrong answers your questions as quickly as possible.

by TheGreatCourses 12/15/2016 6:52:00 PM

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