The History Book Club discussion

This is the thread for any group member to make suggestions about potential new threads for MEDIEVAL HISTORY folder.



Place your suggestion here and we will see how it fits with the group folder and whether we can accommodate. Most requests we do try to implement. Be patient; we do place them in a queue.

Please make sure when adding books that you are recommending that you add both the book's cover and the photo or link to the author. This helps populate the site properly.

Please note that we have moved the thread related to the Crusades to this folder. This was done at a suggestion made by new member George.

Hello Bentley. I know I am new and all this, maybe I should just lurch very quietly for a while, since I do not even know how much time I am going to spend here. But I will be bold. What about a topic on medieval "science"? The quotes are because the term science needs some definition. Being knowledgable about, for instance, how to build a cathedral does not means that there were scientific pursuits in a modern sense. Who were the pioneers in the middle ages? I have read a couple of books on this area, and have several more in my "to do" list. What do you think?

Thanks for the suggestion, Jorge. When Bentley returns from the holidays, he will address it. It is his decision but it certainly sounds like a good suggestion.

Jorge, the thread is set up. Thank you for your suggestion.

If any of you (group members) have any additional suggestions who are visiting the threads please let us know.

Jack has a question - could anybody out there help him out?

How historically accurate is it to call a royal house or a noble family House. I base my question off of game of thrones. I know it is fantasy but would the Lancaster be called House of Lancaster or House Lancaster? Another question on this subject. I have heard people say in reference to the Duchy of Anjou the house of Anjou. Why was this. Thanks all.

I am not an expert on this at all. Maybe Jill could chime in.

I did find in this Wikipedia entry that a dynastic family or lineage is referred to as a House:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasty

And it would be House of Lancaster.

And here is information on Duchies:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchy

Yes, certainly "house of" Lancaster, a reference to an extended kin group. The term "duchy" refers to the territory over which a duke -- theoretically from any family -- might rule.

Thank you, Simon.

Re: the historical backdrop of Game of Thrones, this newish book seems intriguing: Winter Is Coming: The Medieval World of Game of Thrones by Carolyne Larrington

Teri is correct, it is House of Lancaster but with duchies it is more confusing since the ruler of a duchy may be from another house. For example, a Bourbon may also be the Duke of Anjou, so he is from the House of Bourbon since it is senior to a ruler of a duchy. It may be that he could be called from the House of Bourbon-Anjou but I'm not sure. Does that make sense? Probably not because I can't cite anything that explains it better. And I am only stating this from memory, so don't hold me to it.

Thank you both. I hope that helps Jack.

Simon, thank you for adding a citation. We do ask that you use the bookcover instead of the link and add the author's photo or (no photo). In this case it is:

by Carolyne Larrington

All, if you have any suggestions for this folder, please let us know.