La era de la estupidez (2009)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Stupid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCUB4gpNYuQ

Petróleo y gas natural en Nigeria, minuto 23

Imperialismo, minuto 28

Dibujos 34'50 energía barata

consumismo 40'30

Documental sobre Alejandro Magno y otros

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-42mxDK2e8 Alejandro Magno y la catapulta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLbosygK3_I Los malos de la Historia: Atila



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgM1rAo8LkM La construcción de un imperio: Rusia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfGtfO9YvkE El Comunismo, historia de una ilusión

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y1qF4qud1Q Aníbal, la peor pesadilla de Roma (en inglés)

Command Decisions

Batalla de Maratón y Batalla de las Termópilas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1fr_XV16T8



Batalla de los Campos Catalaúnicos y Batalla de Hastings (1066)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qntg_YONGUI

Batalla de Hastings (1066)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bm_eT8N7eU

La batalla de Stalingrado (1942-1943)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=872CvgIEK6U


Trabajo sobre la Segunda Revolución Industrial del profesor Antonio López Heredia

Trabajo sobre II Revolución Industrial del profesor Antonio López Heredia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to9_B5fajxg

miércoles, 20 de julio de 2016

Famine and starvation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_famine_of_1944%E2%80%9345#End_of_the_famine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Starvation_Experiment

http://180degreehealth.com/the-concentration-camp-diet/

https://phdn.org/archives/www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/genocide/war_criminals.htm




    El texto siguiente está sacado de En el corazón del mar de Nathaniel Philbrick publicado por la editorial Seix Barral en Barcelona el año 2015.

    La diarrea es un síntoma común de inanición. El cuerpo puede recuperarse con bastante rapidez de la deshidratación, pero tarda muchísimo en recuperarse de los efectos de la inanición.
    Durante la segunda guerra mundial, el Laboratorio de Higiene Fisiológica de la Universidad de Minnesota llevó a cabo un estudio sobre la inanición que los científicos y los encargados de combatir las hambrunas todavía consideran un patrón de referencia.
    El estudio tenía por objeto ayudar a los aliados a atender las necesidades de los prisioneros de guerra y de los refugiados. Todos los participantes eran objetores de conciencia que se prestaron voluntariamente a perder el 25 por ciento de su peso corporal en seis meses.
    El experimento fue supervisado por el doctor Ancel Keys (de quien procede la denominación "ración K"). Aunque eran escasas, las raciones de los voluntarios cuidadosamente medidas de patatas, nabos, colinabos, pan moreno y macarrones (parecidas al tipo de alimentos que los refugiados podían encontrar durante la guerra) poseían una gran variedad de vitaminas y minerales. Pese a que el experimento se llevó a cabo en circunstancias clínicamente seguras, los voluntarios sufrieron graves angustias fisiológicas y psicológicas.
    A medida que fueron perdiendo peso, los hombres se volvieron letárgicos tanto en cuerpo como en espíritu. Cada vez se mostraban más irritables. Les resultaba difícil concentrarse. Les horrorizaba su falta de fuerza física y de coordinación, y muchos sufrían desvanecimientos cuando se levantaban rápidamente. Se les hincharon las extremidades. Perdieron el deseo sexual y, en su lugar, se entregaban a comentar sus platos preferidos con los demás y pasarse horas enfrascados en la lectura de libros de cocina. Se quejaban de haber perdido todo sentido de la iniciativa y la creatividad.
    Para muchos de los hombres la parte más difícil del experimento fue el período de recuperación. Semanas después de aumentar su ingesta de alimentos, todavía sentían ansias de comer. En algunos casos, llegaron a perder peso durante la primera semana después de dejar la dieta de hambre. 

lunes, 18 de julio de 2016

Demografía en la Edad Moderna siglo XVIII


La demografía en la Edad Moderna

La demografía es el estudio de la población, su cantidad y características. Durante la Edad Moderna (del siglo XVI al siglo XVIII) la cantidad de habitantes de un país estaba en relación directa con su riqueza y poder, pues en una sociedad anterior a la mecanización mucha población era mucha mano de obra disponible y mucha riqueza.
Antes del siglo XVIII toda la Humanidad se ajustaba al régimen demográfico antiguo caracterizado por una natalidad y una mortalidad elevadas.
Aunque la nobleza y la realeza solían realizar matrimonios tempranos, la mayoría de la población se casaba a los 25 o 30 años. Esto se debía a la existencia de la familia extensa. El trabajo (agrícola y artesanal) era tarea de la comunidad familiar formada por decenas de personas que incluía padres, hijos, abuelos, tíos, primos, yernos, nueras. Así que la edad en que alguien se independizaba de su familia para crear una propia solía ser elevada.
Aunque el matrimonio era tardío la experiencia solía repetirse pues eran comunes las viudas y, sobre todo, los viudos.
La fecundidad femenina se extendía desde los 25 hasta los 45 años aunque una mujer no podía dar a luz más de siete u ocho veces, a causa de la prolongación de la lactancia. Por ello la media de hijos nacidos por familia era de cuatro o cinco, aunque solo dos o tres alcanzaban la edad del matrimonio. De todos modos, a causa de la elevada natalidad, la mitad de la población eran menores de 18 años.
De cada cien niños nacidos el mismo año, 25 no cumplían un año, otros 25 morían antes de los 20 y sólo la mitad superaban esa edad. A causa de lo anterior la esperanza de vida al nacer era de 20 o 25 años. Un hombre o una mujer a los 45 o 50 años eran viejos.

Las causas de una mortalidad tan elevada eran una alimentación insuficiente, una higiene escasa y la presencia de todo tipo de enfermedades.
La población solía crecer con rapidez año a año hasta que se producía una crisis de subsistencia o estallaba una epidemia y aquella se hundía bruscamente.

En el siglo XVIII en Inglaterra y alguna otra región se produce la llamada transición demográfica, es decir el paso del régimen demográfico antiguo al régimen demogáfico moderno.
La esperanza de vida al nacer alcanza los 30 años, 40 para los burgueses, y aún más para las minorías dirigentes.
En el siglo XVIII en Europa la natalidad continuó siendo muy elevada pero empezó a descender la mortalidad. Esto último se debió a una mejora en la alimentación, lo que redujo las crisis de subsistencia ylas epidemias. La dieta de los europeos mejoró gracias a la introducción de las plantas americanas: la patata en Inglaterra, los estados alemanesi y Francia, y el maíz en España y los estados italianos.

La población creció en el siglo XVIII en Europa de 120 a 187 millones de habitantes, siendo los europeos un tercio de los habitantes del planeta. Aunque la mitad de la Humanidad vivía en China (295 millones de habitantes en 1800) e India (255 millones).

El crecimiento demográfico en el siglo XVIII aumentó la población europea e hizo necesario buscar soluciones para alimentar y ocupar a esas personas: se pusieron en cultivo nuevas tierras, se intensificó la emigración hacia América, se produjo éxodo rural, una parte de la mano de obra excedente se integró en el domestic system (en Bohemia -actual República Checa- 200.000 personas hilaban lino en sus casas).
Algunos ejemplos del crecimiento demográfico en el siglo XVIII (1701-1800) son Inglaterra, que pasó de 5'5 a 9 millones de habitantes, los estados italianos, que pasaron de 11'5 a 18, o Francia que pasó de 19 a 26.
iHablamos de estados alemanes y de estados italianos para el siglo XVIII porque, aunque existían los idiomas y culturas alemanes e italianos, no existían ambos países ya que su territorio estaba repartido entre decenas de estados.

El Antiguo Régimen

El Antiguo Régimen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scTlzGgavr0

La sociedad del Antiguo Régimen en fragmentos de dos películas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqM0ZKftKqg

Los Felices Años Veinte y el Crack del 29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu8eP7pfcAE

Vocabulario del documental
electrificación
Ford
Chrysler
Wall Street= Bolsa de Nueva York= mercado de valores
aluvión
Aunque en el documental se usa la palabra crack lo más correcto es el Crash de 1929
harapientos
Central Park

Medieval Scandinavian Armies (2) 1300-1500

https://imtw.ru/topic/78699-severo-vostochnaya-evropa-v-period-pozdnego-sred/

http://users.atw.hu/medievalhouse/OsMedScanArm_1300-1500.pdf



A: THE EARLY 14TH CENTURY





 A: THE EARLY 14th CENTURY 
 A1: Norwegian knight In addition to a brimmed chapel-de-fer form of helmet this man wears a mail coif inside what appears to be a separate and padded mail colliere; the coif is laced at the back of the head, while the mail colliere is worn inside the surcoat. The leather-covered wooden shield, of a quite modern form, is here slung on the man's back on its leather guige. A simple and rather old-fashioned mail hauberk has long sleeves but no mittens. Beneath his hauberk he has a padded soft armour or gambeson and a darker coloured woolen tunic. Over his linen surcoat the knight has a rope-like waist cord from which hangs the sheath of a substantial dagger with an iron guard and bar-like pommel. Because he is armed with a heavy, single-edged falchion he does not wear a sword belt. His legs are protected by mail chausses, as worn by A2. 

 A2: Swedish nobleman This man's German 'great helm' has a slightly pointed top plate which is considerably thicker than the side plates and also has a ventilation or plume-hole at the top. Over a linen shirt he has a new-style mail coif, here shown lying on his shoulders; a leather draw cord would tighten the coif around his head, and there was probably a padded arming cap sewn or laced to the inside. The long-sleeved mail hauberk has integral mail mittens with laces to tighten the mail around the wrists; they are shown here hanging off his hands, which protrude through slits in their kid leather palms. The nobleman's surcoat is permanently riveted to an early form of coat-of-plates beneath. The plates only protect his chest, abdomen and lower back; they are secured to the surcoat by gilded rivet heads, and there is also what appears to be a pattern in gold thread embroidery over the junctions of the corners of the plates - perhaps to inhibit wear or fraying. The narrow leather waist belt has a gilded buckle while the broader sword belt also has a large gilded buckle, buckle plate and bar-like stiffeners. The fact that the hem of the surcoat is slit at the sides rather than the front and back seems to indicate German influence. The mail chausses which protect his legs only go over the tops of his feet, these mail flaps being laced to the woollen hose beneath. The method of lacing the sword belt to the scabbard is also rather German; typically the wooden scabbard would be covered with colour-stained leather, with gilded reinforcements and a gilded chape, and the sword has a gilded pommel and quillons. The leather-covered interior of the wooden shield has a notably complex system of straps, buckles and of course a leather guige

 A3: Danish crossbowman Here a segmented and broad-brimmed iron 'kettle' helmet is worn over a smaller, close-fitting iron cervelliere. Beneath both there is a mail coif with leather laces at the back, which is itself worn over a thickly padded colliere or spaulder which protects the neck and shoulders. Over a mail hauberk with three-quarter-length sleeves he wears a cloth-covered coat of-plates. Here each of the internal plates is apparently secured by a pair of small bronze or gilded rivet-heads. The dull coloured tunic beneath the mail hauberk is probably of wool. The plain leather sword-belt has an iron buckle but is attached to the scabbard by a new system of two D-rings on the sides of a metallic band around the scabbard; this is of plain leather-covered wood with an iron chape, while the short, barely tapering sword has an iron hilt and leather covered grip. Instead of a full sized shield this man has a small leather-covered wooden buckler with a large domed iron boss plus narrow riveted iron reinforcements. Dipping below the sword belt is a broad leather spanning belt for his crossbow, supporting a double iron spanning hook attached by rawhide thongs. A plain leather quiver for crossbow bolts would hang behind his right hip, attached to the sword belt. The large crossbow has a wooden stock, iron trigger and stirrup, and a parchment-covered stave of composite construction.

B-C: VISBY



 B/C: LAST STAND OF THE GOTLAND MILITIA; VISBY, 27 JULY 1361 This scene shows Danish knights of King Valdemar IV's army closing in on the last Swedish defenders outside the walls of Visby on the island of Gotland, where the excavated grave pits have revealed a remarkable amount of armour. 

 B/C1: Gotland rural nobleman The bascinet form of helmet worn by this wealthy and influ ential leader has a hole above the temples on each side of the skull where the swivels for a visor would be attached. There is a band of leather beneath the protruding iron vervelles or staples; through these a coloured cord is threaded to secure the mail aventail, which covers the man's neck, chin and shoulders. Over the shoulders of the aventail he has a fabric-covered coat-of-plates whose very large internal iron plates are secured by rivets; it is secured by four buckled straps up the back. Beneath this he wears a long sleeved mail hauberk, and his hands are protected by mail-covered and thickly padded gauntlets. The leather covered wooden shield is supported by a leather guige. The broad colour-stained leather sword belt has a gilded buckle, buckle plate, strap end, and disc-shaped stiffeners, while the scabbard is attached to the belt by rings. The coloured leather-covered wooden scabbard has a gilded chape, and the tapering sword has gilded quillons and pommel. A linen shirt or tunic is worn beneath the mail hauberk. Over the thighs and knees are soft padded leather cuisses, with domed iron poleyns riveted to the knees. His greaves consist of long, narrow iron strips riveted to thick, brightly coloured 'stockings' over the legs but not over the feet. The iron sabatons only cover the tops of his feet, each lame being riveted to the next, and laced to mail chausses beneath by leather thongs. These mail chausses actually cover both feet and legs beneath the greaves. 

 B/C2: Gotland merchant militiaman Although apparently a prosperous man, his military equipment is old-fashioned. The segmented helmet with its broad nasal is particularly archaic; beneath this he has a simple mail coif to protect neck and shoulders. Seemingly most old-fashioned of all is the large round wooden shield hung on his back by a broad leather guige; the leather covering on its face is secured by small iron nails around the rim. The long-sleeved mail hauberk is again in a simple, archaic style; the way it is cut away at the back of the hem suggests that it might even date from the late 12th century. Beneath the hauberk is a padded gambeson over a plain woollen tunic; his legs and feet are protected by mail chausses, his hands by mail-covered and thickly padded gauntlets. The coat-of-plates is a very interesting item, which  may have been remade from a laced lamellar cuirass. The elements or lamellae are, however, now attached to each other with iron rivets rather than leather lacing. The upper rows overlap downwards, while the lower three rows overlap upwards, leaving a narrower row just above waist-height which is overlapped from above and below. The lowest two rows also extend around the front and sides of the body only, not the back. Broad buckled straps support the coat of-plates on the shoulders, and there are scale-shaped iron flaps around most of the edge of the arm holes, again secured by iron rivets. This coat-of-plates opens fully down the front, where a substantial overlap is closed by iron buckled straps on all the rows of lamellae except the lowest. Finally, the man is armed with a very substantial war-axe. 

 B/C3: Gotland peasant footsoldier The substantial cheek pieces attached to this man's brimmed chapel-de-fer were a distinctively Scandinavian style. Otherwise the rest of this ordinary peasant militiaman's equipment is simple, old-fashioned, and probably shows signs of wear over several generations. It consists of a mail coif, a thickly padded mail-covered colliere or spaulder to protect his neck and shoulders, an old mail hauberk with integral mail mittens, a linen-covered quilted gambeson, and mail chausses which are here worn inside his shoes. The wrists of the hauberk are again tightened with leather laces. The great bearskin coat with flap-like sleeves, secured at the front by a rawhide loop and horn toggle, may also have provided additional protection. The plain leather-covered scabbard with iron chape is simply thrust into a plain belt with an iron buckle; the sword has an undecorated iron pommel and quillons and leather-covered grip. The large-bladed iron spear has 'winged' extensions from the socket. The flat wooden buckler with a large iron boss over the fist-grip bar has a single iron reinforcement ring nailed to the front. 

 B/C4: Danish nobleman In contrast to the old-fashioned arms and armour of the Gotland militia, the invading Danes were led by a knightly elite equipped in a more up-to-date and largely German style; yet even here there are some features indicating that Denmark was a little behind the times. The rim of the bascinet goes low around the neck; a mail aventail is secured inside the lower part of the helmet by leather lacing through holes in the rim. There is also a tumbuckle above the forehead to secure a visor. Hardened leather shoulder pieces are just visible, attached to an unseen coat-of-plates beneath the tight-fitting surcoat. Very simple iron rerebraces cover the outsides of the upper arms, where they are secured by buckled straps. An unusually limited form of hinged and buckled iron vambrace protects most of the lower arms; these do not reach the wrists, although they do overlap the rerebraces at the elbows. (Some sources show vambraces with linings which extend as decoratively scallopped fringes around their lower ends.) The iron gauntlets incorporate soft leather gloves. Beneath the plated arm defences and the coat-of-plates is a long-sleeved mail hauberk. The tight-fitting surcoat is decorated with embroidered heraldic dragons; three iron chains emerge from slits in the chest, one leading to the dagger, one to the sword, and one being currently unused. A broad and highly decorated sword belt sits low around the hips. Attached to this is a colour-stained leather-covered wooden scabbard for a sword with gilded pommel and quillons. A 'ballock' dagger with gilded hilt mounts is carried in a dark leather sheath with a gilded chape. The scale-lined cuisses over the thighs are covered in brightly coloured fabric with a decorative scalloped fringe, and gilded rivets secure the internal scales. The domed poleyns are made of hardened leather and their upper edges pass beneath the cuisses. The brightly coloured greaves are similarly made of hardened leather, reinforced with gilded iron straps down the front and around the sides but not the rear of the leg; there is a scalloped fringe at the ankles. Iron sabatons protect the tops of his feet while mail chausses cover both feet and legs beneath the sabatons and greaves. Invisible here, the leather-covered wooden cantle and pommel of the saddle would reflect the nobleman's heraldic insignia. Note that the reins are partly of leather covered with coloured fabric and partly of 'weapons proof iron chains. 

 B/C5: Danish knight This Danish knight appears even more German in style than the nobleman. His tall and slightly pointed bascinet is worn over a mail coif which passes inside his surcoat. The parchment-covered wooden ailettes laced to the hardened leather shoulder pieces of his coat-of-plates are, of course, only for heraldic identification purposes and serve no pro tective function. Most of the coat-of-plates is covered with brightly coloured fabric while gilded rivet-heads secure the internal iron lames or scales. It is mostly obscured by the tight-fitting surcoat in matching colour with similar scalloped hems, which is laced down the sides of the body - note that the back is much longer than the front. 40 He also wears two mail hauberks or shirts, the outer one being short-sleeved and short-hemmed. On the upper arms, between these two mail armours, are hardened leather rere braces held by buckled straps. The gauntlets are largely covered with iron plates. An off-white quilted aketon beneath the coat-of-plates and mail shirts has the hem slit at the sides rather than front and back. A sword belt emerges from beneath the surcoat, supporting the scabbarded sword; this is not being used at the moment because the knight wields a heavy falchion. His legs are protected by domed iron poleyns secured by buckled straps around the backs of his knees, plus fabric-covered, scale-lined cuisses with gilded rivet heads. The iron greaves cover the fronts of his legs only, but beneath them are mail chausses, while the sabatons consist of riveted iron lames. The gilded rowel spurs have coloured leather straps with gilded buckles. The cloth caparison covering the body and neck of the horse is purely decorative and contains no protective layers; beneath the head part there is, however, a hardened leather chamfron. B/C6: German mercenary infantryman Compared with his Danish employers, this German profes sional soldier is equipped in the latest style for close combat. A bulbous form of chapel-de-fer is worn over a small iron bascinet with a mail aventail attached by vervelles. Just visible is an iron pin-and-loops fastening attached to a stiff leather patch, which enabled his coat-of-plates to be opened at the right shoulder only. This coat-of-plates has a simple cloth covering with visible iron rivet heads and polished bronze washers to secure the internal splints or lames. Beneath this is a short-sleeved mail shirt over a long sleeved mail hauberk. Iron plates are riveted to substantial leather gloves to form simple gauntlets. The plain leather belt with an iron buckle supports a large form of basilard dagger with bronze plates riveted to the cross bars of its H-shaped hilt; its darkened leather sheath is secured behind a leather pouch. The fabric-covered cuisses are lined with iron scales secured by rivets; iron poleyns are strapped over the knees; iron greaves cover the fronts of his legs and iron sabatons the tops of his feet, over mail chausses. The soldier carries no shield but is armed with a large-bladed guisarme.

 D: ICELAND, LATE 14th 




CENTURY D1: Norwegian royal official This representative of the crown has arrived in Iceland to collect taxes. Beneath a flat-topped fur hat with a large brooch and decorative feather, as seen in some Scandinavian art of this period, is a very ordinary off-white linen coif. A mail spaulder around his neck and shoulders has a white fabric lining which probably indicates some element of padding. The short-sleeved and otherwise close fitting surcoat is decorated with embroidered heraldic shields and bands of cloth-of-gold. The shape of the chest probably indicates that a thickly padded jupon is worn beneath, rather than any form of rigid body armour. The man does, however, have a long-sleeved mail hauberk with iron couters buckled around the elbows, plus fur-lined leather gloves. The coloured leather sword belt low on his hips has

E: SWEDEN, EARLY 15th CENTURY


E: SWEDEN, EARLY 15th CENTURY E1: Swedish militia crossbowman, early 15th century Swedish militiamen are depicted defending a brate field fortification on a forest path against a Danish force. The helmet, with a broad brim dipping to points at front and back, also has a strengthening strip riveted across the skull from front to back. Beneath it the mail coif has an integral padded lining, especially across the shoulders, which appear rather bulky. The fabric covering of the breast plate is glued to the surface of the iron as well as showing numerous small brass rivet heads; it is closed by straps and buckles at the sides. The four iron hoops or lames around and below the waist form a slightly flexible fauld, and are again covered with a layer of cloth. Three holes on the right breast of the breastplate show where a lance-rest was originally riveted. The man has no further armour, but wears a woollen tunic and the loose-fitting woollen trousers which became a distinguishing feature of northern Scandinavian peasant costume. Around the waist is a very broad leather belt for the double-pronged iron spanning hook which hangs from a broad leather loop at the front. Beneath this is a plain leather sword belt with an iron buckle. The leather-covered wooden scabbard with its iron chape sits in a simple leather loop on the left side of the sword belt. The sword has a spherical iron pommel, iron quillons and a leather-covered grip. Behind the bowman's right hip a plain leather quiver for crossbow bolts hangs by rawhide thongs to the sword belt. A flat wooden buckler with a large iron boss again has an iron reinforcement ring near the edge. The crossbow is a normal form with a parchment-covered composite stave, wooden stock, iron trigger and stirrup, the latter secured by the same bunches of rawhide thongs that fasten the bow to the stock. E2: Swedish man-at-arms, first half 15th century This knight or professional cavalryman has full plate armour or 'white harness', though for some reason the laminated steel fauld below his breast- and back-plates has been removed. This armour is not in the latest style, and might be considered old-fashioned further south. The bascinet is of a normal pointed style, but lacks both a visor and a mail aventail; the large swivel rivet head where a visor would be attached can be seen on the side, as can the iron vervelles for an aventail. On the other hand he does have a padded mail colliere beneath the cuirass, closed at the throat by short buckled straps. The breast- and back-plates have buckled straps at the sides; note a raised iron bar riveted to the upper chest, to stop a lance point sliding up into the wearer's throat, and two holes in the right breast where a lance-rest could be attached. The long, brightly coloured, decorative scalloped 'fringes' emerging from the arm holes of the cuirass may come from another otherwise unseen padded jupon or an early form of arming doublet. Beneath this a short-sleeved and short-hemmed mail shirt is worn over a thickly quilted gambeson. The complete iron plate arm harness includes rerebraces, couters and vambraces plus iron gauntlets with integral leather gloves. A narrow, loose fitting sword belt with gilded buckle and numerous gilded, enamelled decorative lozenges supports a blackened leather-covered wooden scabbard with a gilded chape, hung by means of rings set on two off-set gilded bands. The sword is a long-bladed, long-hilted 'hand-and-a-half weapon with


F: SWEDISH FINLAND


 F: SWEDISH FINLAND, MID-15th CENTURY F1: Swedish man-at-arms One of the defenders of a Swedish frontier castle in Finland, under bombardment by Russian artillery, this man has arms and armour indicating either a person of considerable wealth and prestige, or that he had served in Burgundy where he had purchased a full suit of the latest armour. This includes a notably deep form of sallet with an eye slit, and a fixed bevor to protect his throat and lower face, this being secured by a buckled strap around the back of his neck. The bevor did not, of course, move when he turned his head from side to side, being secured by an iron pin through an iron loop on the breast-plate. Beneath the bevor is a mail colliere. The outer plate or plackart of his breast-plate is partially fluted at the front and, like the breast- and back-plates beneath, is hinged on the left side while being buckled at the right. Both the inner breast-plate and the outer plackart have a slightly forwards-thrust profile. The iron fauld of this cuirass consists of five lames which are again hinged down the left side and buckled down the right. Beneath the steel cuirass is an ordinary mail hauberk whose sleeves are worn inside the plate arm defences. Between the laminated spaulders and fluted roundels on his shoulders, however, there appear the shorter and much broader sleeves of another whole or partial mail garment. The plate arm defences again consist of rerebrace, very large couters with wings to protect the fronts of the elbows, vambraces for the lower arms, and gauntlets with elongated 'cuffs' up the outsides of the arms. His leg harness is similarly complete and includes sabatons made of numerous narrow lames across the feet plus fluted toe-caps, with leather shoes worn inside. The dark leather sword belt passes twice around the body; this would stop it slipping, and also enabled the scabbard to be attached at two alternative points depending on whether the man was on foot or on horseback. The scabbard itself has a pair of soft leather sleeves beneath the leather loop straps which connect to the belt. The sword has a long grip, a remarkably small iron pommel, and S-shaped flattened iron quillons. F2: Swedish crossbowman The tall, pointed, one-piece 'onion-dome' helmet has a relatively flat brim, which seems to have become a typical Scandinavian feature. The white fabric lining of his padded mail colliere is visible around the neck, this piece of armour being worn with the buckles down the back rather than the front. A short-sleeved mail hauberk is worn beneath a brigandine, though the latter is his primary protection. Under the hauberk there appears to be a fur-lined garment, perhaps reflecting the local climate. The cloth-covered brigandine itself consists of numerous small internal scales each secured by three small brass rivets, plus a pair of larger plates on the chest. This armour opened down the front where it was secured by buckled straps. As usual the arm harness consists of rerebraces, coulters and vambraces. The narrow leather belt seems to have no function apart from keeping the brigandine tightly closed. A broader leather sword belt passes through slits in a leather sleeve around the scabbard. The sword, though apparently simple, is actually very advanced, having a horizontal iron finger protecting ring on one side of its iron quillons. A broad leather spanning belt has a large iron ring at the front to

 which the rope of a small spanning pulley is attached. The pulley has an 8-shaped iron ring at the end, which would be placed over the iron 'plug' at the butt end of the crossbow stock; running along the rawhide rope is a simple iron pulley with a substantial iron hook. This large form of crossbow was used in siege warfare; the iron stirrup is large enough for two feet, and the stave is of solid wood rather than composite construction. F3: Finnish auxiliary, c.1475 Pictorial evidence suggests that at least some of the troops stationed in Swedish-ruled late medieval Finland were equipped in up-to-date styles. This infantryman has the very deep form of chapel-de-fer helmet with an eye slit cut into the front of the brim. He also has the usual padded mail colliere beneath a full plate cuirass. In addition to a short sleeved mail hauberk beneath the other armour, he wears plate iron spaulders or shoulder armour which are different for each arm. The rest of the arm defences are, however, symmetrical, consisting of rerebraces, couters (with the wings removed for some reason), vambraces, and rather massive iron gauntlets. Though he has the breast- and back plates of an iron cuirass, held up by broad leather shoulder-straps, the laminated fauld and plackart of this armour have been removed. His plate leg harness only covers the front of the legs; the tops of his feet, hidden here, are protected only by flaps of mail rather than laminated sabatons. His weapon is a singularly massive iron halberd with a cutting blade, a thrusting point, and a hook to pull cavalry from their horses.



G: THE BATTLE OF THE BRUNKENBERG, 10 DE OCTUBRE  OCTOBER 1471
 At this battle King Christian of Denmark and Norway was defeated by Swedish forces under the regent Sten Sture. G1: Danish man-at-arms Here a visored form of sallet helmet has the visor lowered; there is no bevor, but the man's throat is protected by a cloth-lined and padded mail colliere which also covers his shoulders. The upper edge of his breast-plate is just visible at the neck. However, German or even Central European fashionable influence is indicated by the loose-fitting garment with very puffed sleeves which is worn between the breast-plate and the outer plackart; this spectacular garment would probably be of velvet and has gold thread embroidery around the neck. The steel plate plackart outside the velvet 'jacket' is hinged on the left side and has buckled straps on the right, as is the laminated steel fauld around the abdomen and hips. Steel tassets on buckled straps hang from the fauld to protect the upper thighs. Steel mittens with mail over the outsides of the thumbs and fingers have integral leather gloves. Beneath all the other armour there is a mail hauberk. The man-at-arms' full steel leg harness incorporates mail flaps from beneath the knee and upper shin protections, and there are leather shoes inside his sabatons. A simple rondel dagger, with gilt mounts and a polished wood grip, sits in a dark leather sheath on a leather strap to the upper circuit of the doubled sword belt. The sword belt goes twice around the waist and hips, and has a gilded buckle. The scabbard hangs from the upper circuit of the sword-belt because the 

man is on foot; leather straps from the belt pass around rawhide sleeves on the leather-covered scabbard. The sword has a leather covered grip, gilded quillons, and a gilded pommel in the form of an open ring (which recalls some Irish swords of a similar period). G2: Danish hand-gunner In additional to a simple form of brimmed iron chapel-de-fer this soldier has a conventional padded mail colliere around his neck and shoulders, though on this occasion the buckled opening is at the back. A thickly quilted linen-covered, long sleeved gambeson is worn over an unseen brigandine or breast-plate. Beneath this he wears a mail hauberk. Though he has no other apparent arm protection, he wears almost complete leg armour consisting of cuisses for the front of the thighs, poleyns for the knees, and hinged and buckled greaves which wrap around the entire lower legs; he has no sabatons, and the mail chausses beneath his plate leg armour end just below his ankles. A plain leather belt with an iron buckle supports a large leather bag on looped straps to contain powder, shot and other necessities. The handgun may have been imported from Germany or somewhere else in Central Europe; the barrel is secured by a nailed strap around the massive wooden stock. His only defensive weapon appears to be an iron-headed war-hammer on a wooden haft with a leather wrist-loop. G3: Danish militia crossbowman Here another, much deeper version of the chapel-de-fer has a steeply sloped brim with two eye holes at the front; these are surrounded by a raised lip to stop enemy weapons sliding into the eye slits. A mail coif over his head and neck is worn beneath a mail colliere with cloth lining and padding, which covers most of the shoulders. Laminated iron spaulders or shoulder armour are probably fastened to the shoulders of the brigandine and are clearly secured by buckled straps beneath the arms and armpits. Beneath these the bowman wears a three-quarter-sleeved mail hauberk over plate iron or steel vambraces for his lower arms; there are appararently no couters to protect the elbows. Interestingly, the lower hem of the hauberk is slit at the sides rather than the front and back. A fabric-covered brigandine has numerous sets of triple rivets to secure its internal scales. Over this there is a steel-plate plackart to protect the wearer's abdomen and back, hinged on the left side and buckled on the right. A plain leather sword belt supports a scabbard which is attached at three points. The scabbard itself is of leather-covered wood with an iron chape, while the strongly tapering sword has a round iron pommel and straight quillons. Iron leg armour covers the fronts of the thighs, knees and upper shins only; it is secured by buckled straps over quilted chausses and close-fitting woollen hose. The rather floppy leather boots suggest that this soldier expects to ride rather than to walk very far. A leather-covered, wood-reinforced quiver for crossbow bolts is attached to the right hip of his leather belt by rawhide thongs. The large and very up-to-date form of crossbow incorporates a parchment-covered composite stave; it is spanned with a lever-operated steel 'crow's-foot'.

H: NORTHERN SWEDEN


 H: NORTHERN SWEDEN, 15th-EARLY 16th CENTURY

 H1: Swedish militiaman, end of 15th century Soldiers from a northern outpost or town are questioning a nomadic Lapp family. Once again a Swedish soldier's military equipment betrays clear German influence, partic ularly apparent in the blackened steel sallet, which is here tipped back on the head for clearer vision; note the upswept rear point. The usual padded mail colliere has its buckled fastening at the front and is worn over a short-sleeved mail haubergeon. Over these is a blackened cuirass, hinged on the left side and buckled on the right; blackened steel tassets for the fronts of hips and upper thighs are attached by buckled straps to a single-lame fauld which is itself riveted outside the lower edge of the breast-plate. The man's dark woollen tunic is presumably tucked into his trousers as it is not visible around the thighs. His very loose and crumpled trousers are worn beneath blackened steel greaves, resulting in a bloused effect below his knees. His weapons consist of a ballock dagger with a bronze grip, in a leather sheath hung from a leather strap to a plain leather belt with an iron buckle. The primary staff weapon looks almost as if it has been made of a short sword thrust into the end of a stout pole. Leather binding close around the top and base of this pole is also wound in a more extended manner around the rest of the shaft. 

 H2: Swedish longbowman, end of 15th century Another distinctive version of the deep-brimmed iron chapel-de-fer with eye holes cut into the front of its brim appears in a remarkable series of drawings made by a German mercenary who fought in Sweden around the year 1500. Once again a mail colliere is buckled at the front of the throat and is worn beneath a plackart or a limited form of breast- and back-plates. The latter are joined by sturdy leather straps across the shoulders and are partially fluted. The three lames of a hip-protecting fauld only appear at the front of the body, not over the lower back or buttocks. A loose-fitting woollen shirt is again tucked into typically Swedish thick, loose-fitting woollen trousers. The soft leather moccassin-like overshoes worn on top of ordinary leather shoes may be another characteristic element of northern Scandinavian costume. A wooden water bottle hangs from a plain leather belt by rawhide thongs and seems to be made like a flattened barrel. The very large canvas-covered pack on his back may actually contain arrows for his longbow. The latter is itself carried in a long canvas bag with the top end folded over, the whole apparently being thrust through or looped from the waist belt. 

 H3: Lapp hunter, 16th century Pictorial representations of the people of the far north of Scandinavia apparently made from verbal descriptions in the 15th and early 16th centuries are not reliable, but do include certain elements in common with more accurate 17th century illustrations. Given the highly traditional nature of nomadic Lapp culture, in which much the same costumes were still being worn in late 19th and early 20th century photographs, it is fair to assume that 16th century Lapps looked similar to those shown in the 17th century sources. Here, for example, a Lapp man wears a very distinctive tall but slightly floppy hat made from sewn sections of animal skin with the fur inside. The version of the traditional Lapp animal-skin coat which had a tall standing collar generally went out of style in later centuries. However, the very full 'skirts' of such fur-lined tunics remained, as did the animal skin mittens, trousers and soft moccassin-style shoes.
 
Archaeological evidence fortunately helps where the crossbows of these northern hunters were concerned. The form shown here is released when a wooden peg is thrust upwards through the stock by the wooden trigger, thus pushing the bowstring out of a slot in the top of the stock. The bow itself consists of a simple wooden stave, though this has a flattened section, rather like the so-called 'flat bows' which were also used by the people of the Arctic north in earlier years. 

 H4: Lapp woman, 16th century A comparable degree of continuity was apparent in Lapp female costume. Most clothing was, of course, again made of animal-skins worn with the fur inside. The main difference was that a woman's traditional coat or tunic reached her ankles whereas that worn by men only reached a little below the knees. The reindeer carrying the baby and the family's tent poles is again based upon 17th century sources. Two sets of four poles are attached, one on each side, over the distinctive 'saddle pad' and wooden 'saddle boards'. The latter are joined by rawhide thongs above the animal's back. The almost boat-shaped leather-covered cradle, also tied to one of the saddle boards, continued to be used, with only minor variations, until modern times