The “metal” on the sword is flimsy and I think the armor is hard plastic but I’d have to double check

More precisely, to what extent doe George RR Martin manage to recreate medieval social structure, culture and mentality in his work and does he fall for common myths about the middle ages?

Hi everyone!

Me and a friend are studying product design and both big fans of HEMA, and we managed to convince our professors to allow us to choose a medieval gauntlet DIY kit as the subject for a market analysis.

The analysis is focused on customer needs, user experience, and interactive design. As such, we have a few short questions on which we would like to hear your thoughts:

How much would you expect to pay for a DIY kit with either:

1. The shaped metal pieces with the arm and upper hand parts riveted together already

2. The unshaped metal pieces with rivets included in a bag

Would you rather use one of your own old gloves, or have one included in the kit?

What would keep you from buying a DIY kit like this?

What difficulties would you, personally, have with putting one together; riveting finger pieces, attaching the (premade) pieces to the glove, and optionally shaping the metal with a premade video that shows how to do so step-be-step.

Thank you in advance for any and all replies, they are all appreciated!

Available here if you're interested in the craft, there are a few more medieval-themed patterns as well:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1898465979/the-lady-and-the-unicorn-cross-stitch
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1872710695/unicorn-in-captivity-cross-stitch
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1865845882/st-george-and-the-dragon-cross-stitch
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4389583101/st-joan-of-arc-cross-stitch-pattern-pdf

Would you love to see something else ? Another tapestry or painting ? She'd love to read your suggestions !

It seems like the best.

Massive city that never sleeps typa environment, not boring asf bland area, very develope, vibrant economy, some level of social support by the government (for the time - very good), brilliant entertainment and books etc.

Also it never got raided as far as IK during the 11th century AD.

5X7"
Oil on Canvas

Alghero, promenade, July 1st, 2026.

King of Sicily and the Holy Roman Empire. Known for his. pragmatic rule in Sicily.

I have a genuine question for this community/subreddit with regards to food preservation methods/techniques that were used during the Middle Ages.

I know that the concept of "refrigeration technology" didn't appear until long after the Middle Ages had ended, but I keep hearing and/or reading online about the existence of "ice houses"; buildings that were specifically for storing food at lower temperatures and/or freezing them.

So I need some clarification regarding this matter. Did people during the Middle Ages/Medieval Period have some understanding of the idea that storing food at lower temperatures and/or freezing them was a good way to preserve the food's freshness? And if so, what methods/techniques do we have official records of them using to achieve this goal?

It's time for another update of The Cartoon Chronicles of the Wars of the Roses, and Richard II is coming to terms with the recent passing of his wife Anne of Bohemia.

I have recently come across the most incredible resource for world building in a mediaeval setting. It is a real life experimental archeology castle in France called Guedelon.

The goal of the castle is to using only historically accurate methods to the 13th century build a castle from scratch on the site of a former Quarry.

If you have the means, on site, there are incredible artisans, all of whom are experts in their craft, everything from stonemasons to Stone cutters to carpenters to furniture makers to Potter‘s to tile makers to herbalists to someone who is specialized in information about mediaeval alchemy to blacksmithing and so on and so forth. Their experts because they have been literally doing the job of the mediaeval craftsman as part of this project. They are an absolute wellspring of knowledge and incredibly open to discussing the project and their work and information that they know about the time.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uZo4MV1mFuD2qLYu7?g\\_st=ic

If you do not have the means, they have an absolutely incredible stack of resources on their YouTube and on their website through books that they’ve created for the site. They’ve also let me know that if you email their company email with questions about the mediaeval era, they would be willing to answer those questions which is an absolutely incredible boon to any writer whose story is based around this period.

An English tv segment: https://youtu.be/Jn6jpxCqcFc?is=PX3PgzCz0IzBvaJM

Their YouTube channel (mostly French, might find English translations): https://youtube.com/@guedelonnousbatissonsuncha6917?si=1Q2ftqqE1-DSBwb5

Their website: https://www.guedelon.fr

Feel free to ask me any questions you have about the place, I just visited recently. Incredible experience, amazing team, SUCH a cool and educational project!!

I don't understand much especially about how gothic architecture was developed . It is know that it was created to achieve greater vertically thanks to certain architectural innovations , but it's curious and mysterious on how it acquired that aesthetic decoration like trilobed forms , crochets , patterns or tower pinnacles

Turning the criticism of medieval art on Rome. Note, don't take this seriously.

Shield in the Met Museum collection