It might be making you smarter. One 溏心vlog免费B站 professor capitalizes on the show’s popularity to help her students understand Europe in the Middle Ages.
EXPERIENCING GOT WITHDRAWAL?
Now that the series has ended, you could binge watch all eight seasons…again. But why not try branching out? Visit the medieval collection at your local art museum, or grab a book about the Middle Ages. One of Professor Rollo-Koster’s favorites is Terry Jones’ Medieval Lives. Best known as part of the Monty Python comedy group, Jones also has a Ph.D. in medieval history from Oxford.
鈥淒ragons do not do well in captivity,鈥� says Game of Thrones scene-stealer Tyrion Lannister, known for being witty, wise鈥攁nd often drunk. When asked how he knows this, his reply鈥攎ade with wine in hand鈥攊s: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I do. I drink and I know things.鈥�
But making medieval history as vivid and memorable as the popular HBO series requires a little more than that. Professor Jo毛lle Rollo-Koster reasons that if her HIS 304 students can follow the shifting alliances in GOT, they can understand the dynastic intricacies of the Middle Ages. 鈥淲ho鈥檚 married to whom, why alliances are created, who鈥檚 allied with whom against whom,鈥� she says, 鈥淭his is the juice of history.鈥�
Based on George R.R. Martin鈥檚 books, GOT is credited with energizing the field of medieval studies. But the show is 鈥渢he work of fantasy writers,鈥� Rollo-Koster says. To separate fact from fiction, we asked her to rule on GOT鈥檚 historical fidelity. Here are her yeas and nays.
YEAS
Kings have power. Chief among the show鈥檚 successes鈥攕ocial interaction is based on conflict and linked to power. Medieval kings and their lords held the power to make laws, levy taxes, enlist armies. GOT depicts this accurately. You see 鈥渋ndependent states still owing their allegiance to the king of the Iron Throne.鈥�
Widows are important. In the 14th century, Isabella of France, aka the She-Wolf of France, ruled after overthrowing her husband, Edward II (who was eventually murdered). 鈥淪he would be a good Cersei Lannister. Widowhood was when women had the most freedom in medieval times.鈥�
A Jon Snow can get ahead. Primogeniture鈥攊nheritance by the oldest son鈥攑rotected family land and power in the Middle Ages. But illegitimate children could rise up. William the Conqueror, aka William the Bastard, who conquered England in 1066, was the Jon Snow of his day. 鈥淚f the oldest son died, the bastard could do very well for himself.鈥�
Honor matters. GOT depicts a violent world of loyalty to oath and homage to a king, who can confiscate the land of nobles who defy him鈥攁ll very medieval.
NAYS
Clergy aren鈥檛 prominent. GOT includes religious leaders鈥攖he septons鈥攂ut they don鈥檛 play a large role. In the Middle Ages, every ruler had a council of clergymen. Clergy were everywhere.鈥�
Tears are in short supply. 鈥淚n the Middle Ages, everyone was crying. A good sermon brought tears. I think what GOT does is take a modern view. Modern people don鈥檛 want to know that knights were always crying.鈥�
There are castles without moats. 鈥淎s a true medievalist, I get upset when I see castle walls but no moats.鈥�
The world is static. No technological or social advances, little political change鈥攖he Starks have ruled the North for thousands of years. 鈥淚t is interesting that in the fantasy genre there is a kind of idolization for an unchanging world. We are a society that runs fast, but here we are admiring a fictional world stuck in immobility.鈥�
鈥擳ony LaRoche 鈥�95
HIS 304 鈥� WESTERN EUROPE IN THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
PROFESSOR JO脣LLE ROLLO-KOSTER
This hands-on course delves into the social, economic, political, cultural, and religious history of Europe from the 11th to the 14th century.
Students learn to ask historical questions rather than simply memorize history.
Students are encouraged to visit the medieval collections at local museums, including:
鈥� Worcester Art Museum
鈥� Boston Museum of Fine Arts
鈥� Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston)
鈥� RISD Museum (Providence)