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Lakewood High School Learning Resource Center Middle Ages & Renaissance Pathfinder

ORB: The Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies

Primary and secondary resources from medieval scholars. This site includes original articles, graphics links, links to full text documents, and to other sites for culture of the Middle Ages. Try The ORB Encyclopedia.

The Labyrinth: Resources for Medieval Studies

Huge, searchable list of links

NetSERF: The Internet Connection for Medieval Resources

A "meta-index" of Internet resources. Over 1400 links in more than a dozen categories.

WWW-Virtual Library - Medieval Europe

An extensive directory of sites.

Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Medieval Europe

Some primary source texts, essays and timelines. Puts events in a cross-cultural perspective with other areas of the world.

WWW Medieval Resources

Another excellent link collection.

Medieval Sourcebook

A resource of medieval and Byzantine textual primary sources in translation from Fordham Univ. Center for Medieval Studies.

Medieval World Encyclopedia

Brief entries for various topics under the headings: Anglo-Saxons, Normans, Medieval Warfare, Farming, Monarchs, Literature.

Zeitgeist / Philosophy / The Church

Renaissance: What inspired this age of balance and order?

What forces drove the rebirth, with focus on Italy. An online exhibit inspired by a video series on the Western Tradition.

Medieval Churchmen - Hall of Church History

Timeline of events and hypertext documents.

Philosophy Research Base: Medieval

Directory of resources about the main thinkers of the Middle Ages.

The End of Europe's Middle Ages

The economic, political, religious and intellectual environment of the 14th and 15th centuries: trade routes, black death, feudalism, chivalry, Crusades, troubadours, and much more. Good coverage of eastern Europe.

Medieval Europe

Good introductory essays on a number of topics plus links to more. From Boise State Univ.

Virtual Renaissance

"A journey through time"...

A History of the Crusades

Online version of a six-volume (4000 pages in print) history of the Christian military expeditions to the Holy Land.

Castles / Knights / Chivalry

Castles on the Web

Links to other sites about castles. Includes pages for Medieval Studies, Weapons and Supplies, Heraldry, Myths and Legends,

Castles of Britain

Check out the Castle Learning Center with sections on castle types, construction, and daily life.

Castles of Wales

Background essays on castles, castle terminology, history, pictures, links to more, and even a quiz.

Knighthood and Orders of Chivalry

A good survey of the topic from Heraldica heraldry site.

Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournaments

Armour, coronations, codes of chivalry, lots more.

Daily Life

Medieval English Towns

History of several particular towns, plus a great bunch of links to other boroughs, background on medieval towns, fiefdoms and daily life.

Guild Hall - Virtual Renaissance - Apprenticeships

Covers several professions.

Medieval Women - an interactive exploration

You'll need Flash and RealPlayer to experience this site in interactive mode. Otherwise, use the site map, the search feature, or go to the Scriptorium to find useful material -- primary source, sound clips, brief descriptions.

GodeCookery.Com

Sure, you'll find recipes here and other items about food in the Middle Ages, but this site includes other gode stuffe: Chaucer, mythical plants, fantastic fish, pestilence (the Black Death), the macabre and clipart woodcuts.

Medieval/Renaissance Food Homepage

Links to other resources.

Medieval Gastronomy

Online exhibition from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

Middle Ages: What was it like to live in the Middle Ages?

The pageantry and the peasantry. An online exhibit inspired by a video series on the Western Tradition.

Society for Creative Anachronism

In these pages find resources for researching pre-17th-century European history, used by groups that re-create and re-enact the Middle Ages.

Dress, Jewels, Arms and Coat of Arms: Material Culture and Self-Representation in the Late Middle Ages

Attire and equipment worn by the various social classes. Histories of inventions from Arabic numbers to grindstones to wine presses.

Footwear of the Middle Ages

To the end of the 16th C.

Science / Technology / Warfare

Epact: Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe

A database of instruments made before 1600. 500 entries, plus biographical information on over 100 instrument makers.

Medieval Technology Pages

Essays on more than a couple dozen items that shaped everyday life and sometimes the course of history. Who knew that the introduction of stirrups would cause such a stir? Also includes some population estimates.

Muslim Scientists, Mathematicians and Astronomers

Islamic contribution. Covers the time preceding the European Renaissance, 700-1500 C.E.

The Grey Company Trebuchet Page

Learn about these medieval siege engines at this wonderful Australian site. Explains, demonstrates and presents the history of these "leverage artillery" catapult devices called perriers, petrarias, war wolves, coulliards, bricoles or even "the witch from whose head the ropes hang like hair". For more history, visit the Catapult Museum Online.

Secrets of Lost Empires: Medieval Siege

Companion site to the PBS Nova program. Learn about the trebuchet and other weapons.

Art / Architecture

Digital Archive of European Architecture

Photos of historic sites including Gothic churches and medieval fortifications.

Medieval Art and Architecture

Pictures of architecture in England and France. Includes floor plans, a glossary and a nice selection of maps.

Web Gallery of Art

 More than 7,000 reproductions of European paintings and sculptures from 1150 to 1750.

Italian Sculpture

By time period. Great pictures and brief descriptions.

Art of Renaissance Science: Galileo and Perspective

Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist

Online exhibition from the Museum of Science, Boston. Comprehensive profile of this "Renaissance man" and his work.

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Detailed biographical site.

Literature / Music / Drama / Bestiary

Online Medieval & Classical Library

Full text versions of classic works.

Luminarium

Middle English (14th C.), 16th and 17th C. Renaissance English Literature. Introductions to the periods link to the Norton site below.

Norton Topics Online: Middle Ages | 16th C. | Early 17th C.

The "texts and contexts" of English literature of the three periods.

Digital Dante

The premier Dante Alighieri site.

Chaucer MetaPage

Best starting point for Geoffrey Chaucer studies.

Guide to Medieval and Renaissance (Musical) Instruments

Pictures, descriptions, background, sound samples | Pointers to more information.

Medieval Drama Links

Includes costume, music and dance.

The English Renaissance in Context

Multimedia tutorials and access to major texts of the English Renaissance. Information on book publishing. From the University of Pennsylvania Library.

Medieval Bestiary

An online exhibition from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

The Medieval Bestiary

"information about the Medieval Bestiary and its antecendants, as well as related information on the Medieval view of animals in general, both fabulous and real."

Heraldry

Heraldica

Medieval Names Archive

Legends

Legends

All the swashbucklers: Robin Hood, Arthur, Three Musketeers and more.

Arthurian Resources

"dedicated to understanding the early medieval Arthurian legend..."

The Camelot Project at the University of Rochester

"database of Arthurian texts, images, bibliographies, and basic information." Includes the Holy Grail

Knights Templar: A History and Mythos

History, mystery and speculation. Includes information on the Crusades.

 

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