How did leadership, heroism, and religious beliefs develop in Scandinavian culture during the 500's and 600 AD
610116
Okay, that period still has us in the Viking era, before the conversion of Scandinavia to Christianity. So we've got worship of the Norse Gods, as well as boat raids of other areas, and a culture that is martial.
370179
My guess is that you're looking for information on "courtesy," which in medieval society refers to the whole wad of behaviors that we'd associate with being a member of court: politeness, knightliness, treating a lady nobly, etc.  I don't have my copy of the Tales with me, but I believe the Knight is praised in the General Prologue for his courtesy, which in his case simply means that he knows how to behave like a knight. You might think of it as the non-fighting aspect of chivalry.
876586
I think Before it was middle ages and after Renaissance.\nThat means (to me) that people just change from surviving (wars, hunger...) to enjoying (arts).
157276
The ancient peoples of Europe were more fond of masks and religious ritual than you would suspect if you saw Europeans today. Mask wearing and shamanism was part and parcel of everyday life in ancient Western European tradition. \n\nThere are stories abound about African and North American tribal shamans but not a lot is known about ancient European peoples' involvement with masked ritual or the practice of magic. That is why finding out about similarities between the ideas behind masks from around the world and those originating from European soil, is a discovery of intriguing and yet no less real beliefs. \n\nThe less obvious link of European societies with shamanism or religious ritual than for instance the North American native Indian customs or magic activity in the past is due to the more 'sanitised' way Europe has developed because of church interference in people's lives. The church dominance virtually stamped out any pagan ritual. It was not until after 1960, when the Americans experienced a revival of the interest in shamanism, that much has become known about the European version of the practice of magic and mask wearing. There is more verifyable information about the true roots of Western European civilisation than initially suspected. \n\n"The spirit if not the exact practise of shamanism has been passed on through Europe's generations", one authority on the subject, Leigh Ann Hussey, believes. The earliest recordings of ceremonies involving masks were found in the caves of the Trois Freres (Three Brothers) in France where paintings of a Paleolithic scene depicting European animism of the first order. \n\nIan Bracegirdle, a mask expert, describes the cave: A central figure stands wearing the head and antlers of a deer. He stands, shaman like, surrounded by animals. Animals that are important to the culture he represents. Some of the animals no longer exist in this area. Ibex, reindeer, bison, stag and horses. The shaman, for that is what he seems to be, stands, a human figure amongst the potential food. \n\nIt is believed that the paleolithic cave served as a place where hunters were initiated. The sorceror or shaman was symbol to sympathetic magic. He wore ears and horns of a stag, the eyes and beak of an owl, the bearded face of an old man, the tail of a wolf, the paws of a bear and the legs of a dancing shaman. He stood in front of painted hunting murals. The Shaman served as mediator between humans and their venerated animal kin. \n\nThis is pretty much the best evidence in tangible form that we have of our ancestors' animistic beliefs. It dates back 10,000 years and is accompanied by an abundance of myths and stories showing our ancestors had plenty of similar ideas. A close analogy exists in the stories of Kernunnos, forest god of the later Celts. The masks express animism to some extent. \n\nHis information is confirmed by Ms Hussey, who went on a hunt in European shamanism and found when she examined ancient sources, that she did not need to borrow from other traditions. "It is clear that tribal Europe had as strong a shamanic tradition as, for example, any of the American Indian tribes," she said. \n\nSumming up the general symbolism that unites masks from around the globe, Bracegirdle says that there are many striking similarities between the ancient cultures of the Pacific West Coast of North America and the tribal traditions of Africa. Symbols that all these cultures share are relating to fertility, the hunted animal, ancestors, initiation into rites, circumcision, cannibalism real and symbolic, healing and crossing over into the spirit world for guidance and healing powers or to appease the gods or ancestors are the accompanying ideas behind masks. \n\nNot a lot has been passed on from generation to generation in any overtly recognisable form or shape, but among the most powerful links is the seasonal nature of many traditions we still know about. In the UK,
745580
I am currently teaching 12th grade English which is British literature. There is a lot of religion thrown into the old Anglo-Saxon stories such as Beowulf. It helps the students to know the history of the period and how religion was involved. When you move on to the middle ages, religion is also involved. In reading The Canterbury Tales, you have to have some understanding of nuns, monks, priests, etc. Otherwise you miss out on something in the story. I believe that you can speak about religion in a historical context, but you should not put your religious beliefs or nonbeliefs on the students at any time.
593317
I'll agree with the person above me: just about as logical as Christianity, only a bit more fun...I'm not into Asatru, but I'm a Norse Mythology nut so I run across references to it quite a bit.  I'm especially fond of some of the similarities between Ragnarok and Armageddon...
1148865
They wouldn't have changed at all over the past 500 years.\n\nReal progress only happens by merging different ideas.
218621
Leif Erikson, around 1000AD
328511
Being pagan I have a LOT of religious objects. Symbols of my religion, statues, and clothing are good examples. I try to live my life for the gods and so my home reflects that. I know you weren't interested in religious texts, but I have a library of archeological books that tell of my religion. These are useful at times when I need to tell others about my religion. I also have an extensive library of christian literature for use when I need to explain christian religion to people who are part of that religion.
21720
The Danish. In 1066, the Danes invaded England, and won the war. England, or Angle Land, as it was known then, still having people speaking the germanic languages, had a simpler language type than the Danish, who spoke primarily Latin. The Danes were very educated people and were very proud of this fact. As in the aftermath of any war, the victors, in this case, the Danish, assumed the ruling class positions in Angle Land. As the Danish children started to grow up in the land of the Germanic peoples, they learned the common or "vulgar" (which simply means common, though it has been twisted these days to mean something vile) language. Danish parents, still proud of their education, chastised their children for using the vulgar common words, thus starting the concept that some words are better (or in this case, worse) than others. Because of the close ties to the catholic church maintained by Denmark at the time, the concept began to work its way into organized theological religion, even taught as sin in some places. \nThere are several things that are interesting to note:\nFirst, there are no references available to profane language earlier to this in the English language.\nSecond,there are other countries in the world that do not have any words that are culturally taboo. This is primarily an english-language thing. \nIn addition, in England, there are different sets of words that are taboo than are here in the US. For instance: In the US, the "F" word is a big no-no, but in England, the word is commonplace, just as any other expletive word, conveying shock or anger, but to contrast, the word "Bloody" is a vile thing to say.\n\nHope this helps.
407205
physical appearance, personal beliefs, and history
1052083
A pagan one. :-P Pagan religions were the majority until Christianity came along.
1000096
Interesting reading here about 'The Development of the Codpiece'.\n\n Legend has it that Edward III, king of England from 1327-1377, had the codpiece of his armor ENLARGED to astounding proportions because he had heard that strength and military prowess were correlated with a man's endowment. As he was in the midst of the Hundred Years' War with the French at the time, it would not be surprising that he would try to seek any possible advantage available to him.\n\n He then ordered that the nobility and knights do the same to their armor. The legend goes on to say that the gullible French (from the nobility all the way down to the peasantry) were scared to death by the advance of the "WELL-EQUIPPED" men. If this legend is true, and the personality of Edward III would support it, it is an example of how the nobility can influence fashion. \nP.S. for the nicest codpiece go here: \n http://www.perrybrass.com/storypag.htm
937105
Symbols were all that was needed --\nfor people, animals that were hunted, basic concepts\nthat were commonly understood.\n\nThe sophistication of writing tools, paper, and alphabets to spell the spoken "names" for the images did not develop until later.\n\nLook up cuneiform or the progression from symbols to letters.
1054334
I myself , as a pagan, have wondered that same question many times. the best thing I can think of is that even though we have advanced as a people, there are many who still hold true the values and mores taught to them by family members over the years. What can I say, old habits die hard. THink about it this way, if you are told something by your parents, who was by their parents, who was told by their parents, et cetera, it would be really hard for you to accept anything else.\n Back in merry old England (and the isles), pagans/wiccans were purseued by the Christans who were pretty much forcing everyone to their religion. When the elders of the villages wouldn't heed to the 'younger kids' wishes to converet to CHristianity, they would either fabricate or not totally investigate claims of demon worship, human sacrifice, and other such forms of obsene behavior.  I know that is just one such reason many people shun such religions. This ideology and way of thinking just kind of trickled down through generations, and just hasn't exactly gone away. \nThere are just so many reasons, and I just bearly scratched the surface. I just think that it all boils down to people not accepting what they don't understand and relgious zealots to willing to accept anything other than what they know/believe.
450945
Medieval European society was largely dominated by Christianity, mainly starting through the monasteries.  The monasteries served as a repository and place of learning, and as missionaries to the barbarian tribes.  They were also critical to early development of the economy, serving as a form of bank and focal point for the development of towns, and as safe places for merchants and travelers to stay on their journeys.\n\nLater on the Church was well integrated into the feudal system that controlled society for close to a thousand years.  Almost all of the art, and most of the architecture, was religious in nature.  The development of the university grew out of the seminary system.\n\nThe Church also supported the civil government by approving of various Kings and leaders.  The civil government in turn promised to protect the Church.\n\nBasically there is no part of medieval society that wasn't significantly affected by christianity.
581214
Lord of the rings called on many believes in its characters.  Most from paganism.  Norse and Celtic mostly the fight between good and evil is fairly standard.  Some say the it was more about what was happening in the world at that time.  Tolkien wrote this story during ww2 for his son who was fighting.