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Only a mediaevalist can understand the present

13 May 2009

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Dan Jones says that our own era of disease, superstition, disorder and economic chaos is best explained by those who understand the Middle Ages

Now, I am not saying something so trite as that the G20 riots were identical re-enactments of the Peasants’ Revolt. If we follow Marx’s maxim that history repeats itself once as tragedy and again as farce, then this was very much the second repetition. But what I do wish to point out is that at this time more than any recent other, mediaeval history has something important to tell us. Those constant echoes between past and present are clearest now between the Middle Ages and today.

Am I wrong to be excited? Is it grotesque to think that this is now an intellectually exciting and potentially lucrative time to be studying the Middle Ages? I know it should feel a little bit grubby: in fact, it’s probably the same feeling that roofers got during the 1987 hurricane, or that fills the manufacturers of lavatory paper when there’s an outbreak of that gut-rotting winter norovirus. But put yourself in my shoes. I’ve spent the last ten years reading, writing and thinking about a deeply unfashionable time in history. At university I was lumped in with the nerds (wild thickets of ginger hair, ugly spectacles, unmodulated voices), while the rest of the cool kids (cigs, hookahs, leather jackets, casual f***ing) studied Islamic history, or bloody political thought. Ever since, when I tell people I write about mediaeval England, they have tended to screw up their noses as if I’ve told them I’m a pest control expert and I really, really like my job.

But now, finally, mediaeval history is having its moment, and I intend to be there to see it flourish. The first step? I propose a little club for Spectator readers with an interest in all matters mediaeval. Founder members can be me and the sainted ed (an Oxford mediaevalist, don’t you know?). We can call it the Ignatius J. Reilly Society, and all members must own a deerstalker and a copy of Boethius. Dues will be payable at quarterly sessions to be held in the manorial court at 22 Old Queen Street. Feast days and mystery plays to be announced in due course. Write and let me know if you’d like to join.

Summer of Blood: The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 by Dan Jones is published by Harper Press.

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terence patrick hewett

May 14th, 2009 9:25am Report this comment

I'm a professional engineer. When I tell people I read Chaucer in Middle English, I get the same look. Most amusing.

Julianlzb87

May 14th, 2009 11:54am Report this comment

This book...

http://www.econlib.org/library/Mackay/macEx.html

should be on a national curriculum.

N

May 14th, 2009 4:25pm Report this comment

I only have a copy of Boethius, i lack a deerstalker, butI have a copy of Chaucer, could that be a substitute for a deerstalker? Can i still join?

Thom

May 14th, 2009 9:11pm Report this comment

I get that look too whenever I tell people I took Medieval Studies at university. I always assumed it was the 'studies' that did it, throwing images of Mickey Mouse into their thoughts, so I now tend to go with "I took Medieval History". I didn't realise the first word was actually the one inflicting mental injury. Either way all I usually get from anyone once they've recovered is a supercilious "why?"

I would still join your club.

Tom

May 15th, 2009 12:21pm Report this comment

Count me in - as long as those of us here in Wales do not have to be outside the city gate before nightfall.

James Hannam

May 15th, 2009 4:38pm Report this comment

If you find mediaeval history a enough hard sell, you should try mediaeval science. Still, the book is out in August.

http://jameshannam.com

Pauli

May 15th, 2009 6:15pm Report this comment

Puuuhhllleeeezzeee:
Medieval Studies is Greta Garbo compared to North African Hellenistic Prose. As the hostess of a party said to me, after introductions: "That is so cute!"

R Fitch

May 15th, 2009 8:27pm Report this comment

Can I join as an associate? My interest is chiefly in 5th BC Athens but Medieval runs a v. close second and I loved the article.

J

May 16th, 2009 3:57am Report this comment

No deerstalker - I think they're unfeminine. If women can join, though, I have copies of Boethius, Beowulf, Chaucer, Malory - et al. even.

Sandeep Murthy

May 16th, 2009 9:55am Report this comment

To understand medieval doom and gloom read Huizinga's 'Waning of the Middle Ages' (also called 'Autumn of the Middle Ages'). A gloomy book which strangely enough makes you almost want to go back to those days.

terence patrick hewett

May 17th, 2009 8:46am Report this comment

I do hope Dan Jones is not joking about the formation of the Ignatius J. Reilly Society, since I need to know the answer to a question that has been puzzling me for a number of years. It concerns the Luttrell Psalter. If the illustration of the Ploughman, featured in the Psalter, is accessed using Google, it will be noticed that the Ploughman has his John Cleese type, Robin hood type, pointy hat on back to front, baseball cap style. Is this to stop it blowing off in a high wind or is he a Really Cool Dude?

Bavardess

May 18th, 2009 6:31am Report this comment

Count me in. And I can bring Thomas a Kempis, Jean de Meun and Margery Kempe.

donald fraser

May 19th, 2009 4:25am Report this comment

While I studied modern history at university, I find my A-level in medieval in history useful. The exploitation of gunpowder (physical containment) is worth comparing to the nuclear propulsion arguments. The Chinese invented something, kept the recipe secret and failed to exploit it. It was exploited in the medieval period by Europeans. What is the probability of reaching the stars by harnessing our discovery? Project Orion (1957-65) illustrates the basic scientific idea to it.

Why did a Columbus figure not set sail before 1492? Did it require the Black Death to shake-up the theological certainties? Are we trapped by our thinking rather than our technology? Is the need to vehemently discredit “faster than light” science akin to the fierce heretical laws defending “flat earth” theories in the medieval period? Could medieval history help renew interest in space travel at faster than light speeds as an alternative to climate control? If not, must heretical, nuclear crackpots wait a catastrophe equivalent to the Black Death before our ships to America can sail?

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