A few more ideas for the planned book (electronic or print) on popular
misconceptions of the Middle Ages:
1) Pope Joan. This one has been making a comeback lately, in no small part
due to Donna Woolfolk Cross' 1996 novel, _Pope Joan_.
2) Simon of Trent and the blood libel. Yes, there are still people out
there who believe that Jews kill/killed small children for their rituals.
And no, they are not just Russian nationalists.
I think the idea of trying to debunk misconceptions about the Middle Ages
is a wonderful one, no matter how difficult it may seem at first. My
experience, limited as it may be, is that historical ignorance in general
is widespread. Some efforts are being made against this--I've been writing
lately for a group called the History News Service, which was organized to
provide newspapers with historically informed editorials and articles.
(The HNS has a web site at www.h-net.msu.edu/~hns/index.html for anyone
interested in finding out more.) I would be delighted to see what this
list could manage.
Stephen A. Allen
The Medieval Institute
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
[log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|