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A Magical Invitation...
To travel to the past you’ve got to make things vanish. Imagine living without clocks or wristwatches. The passage of time back then was noted by the sun, moon and seasons. The most common alarm clock was the local rooster. Look at just one corner of your room. If an object wasn’t around a thousand years ago, say “Poof! Begone!” Anything plastic has to go. Replace it with materials of the Middle Ages – wood, metal or stone. Keep wax candles (but don’t light them without your parent’s permission!) and glass, and a bell. Bells were also used to wake people up, mark time during the day and warn of invaders. During the Early Middle Ages, or Dark Ages, time moved very slowly. It was as if the lights of society were all turned off at once. Useful ideas were hidden or hard to find, and new ideas seemed frightening and dangerous. But you are one of the brave ones, eager to step from the dark into the Middle Ages to find what you can, and to bring it back to share with others! Here's a Fun Activity! The famous painting, "Children's Games", by Pieter Bruegel (1525-1569) shows Medieval children at play (click on the mini painting at left). There are supposed to be as many as 80 different games shown! How many can you find? Do kids still play them today? |
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! You are hereby invited on a magical
journey to the Middle Ages (or Medieval Period) of Europe, time traveling
to the early days of knights and castles. But traveler beware! The Middle
Ages were troubled times of extreme opposites. A bold knight might pray for
his victim and then chop off his head! 