Early Medieval Magnates Talk in Lund

Posted by Martin R on November 25, 2009
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A few months ago I finished a book manuscript on elite settlement and political geography in Östergötland, one of Sweden’s core provinces, in the period AD 375-1000. In countries that have experienced an infestation of Romans, this era is known as the Early Middle Ages. In Scandyland we call it the Late Iron Age. Researching and writing the book has been my main project for over four years, as reflected in many blog entries here about sites such as Skamby in Kuddby and Sättuna in Kaga.

On Thursday 26 November at 15:00 I will give a talk about these matters at the Dept of Archaeology at the University of Lund, Sandgatan 1. I’m sure there will be room for some interested members of the public. Do show up if you’re into things like this — I promise it won’t be dry and academic. And if you’re an Aard reader, please come over and say hi!

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Comments

  1. #1 Nomen Nescio
    November 16, 2009

    i read the post title and thought, “they can’t be talking, aren’t they all dead by now?”

  2. #2 Martin R
    November 16, 2009

    Certainly not. I’m talking, aren’t I?

  3. #3 eleanora.
    November 17, 2009

    In Aus that era is refered to as the Dark Ages. In school we were told that it’s because so little was written down, and hence nothing is known about that time – simplistic drivel.

  4. #4 acai
    November 17, 2009

    In school we were told that it’s because so little was written down.

  5. #5 Martin R
    November 17, 2009

    I actually like the term “dark ages”. The nature of knowledge from written sources is very different from that of archaeological knowledge. Of course historians will call any period dark where they don’t even know the names of the kings.

  6. #6 DianaGainer
    November 17, 2009

    In school we were told that it was called the Dark Ages because nothing of any importance whatever happened then, at least in Europe (which was why nobody wrote anything of any interest to future generations). And since only Europe counts in the history of the world, nothing of any importance whatever happened anywhere in the world. Turn page, enter the Renaissance, and Italy springs up out of the dark void, to save the world.

  7. #7 Martin R
    November 17, 2009

    That’s a weird way to use the term. Are you sure they didn’t they mention the High Middle Ages with Gothic architecture and courtly culture and jousting and troubadours? The Norman conquest? Nothing about the Crusades?

  8. #8 eleanora.
    November 17, 2009

    At school, British History started in 1066 with the battle of Hastings (the Romans and their occupation of Britain were covered the year before in Ancient History), and that was the start of the Middle Ages. Because it was British history, rather than European, the Renaissance barely got a mention. It was the Middle Ages right up to the glory of the Elizabeth Age, although with a hint of the things to come during her father’s reign.