Medieval Armor Projects
Armor protected medieval warriors and also was a sign of status. Whereas the common soldier would have little protection, a privileged European knight, for instance, would be covered from head to toe with armor. The use of armor in the Middle Ages and its cultural aspects should allow for several interesting projects.
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History of Medieval Armor
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Teach students a brief history of medieval armor from around the world. You can use a timeline for the period, and involve armor in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Later, ask the students which armor they think is the best suited and least suited for use in battle. Also ask the students if there is any situation in modern warfare where armor would give a medieval soldier an advantage over a modern soldier.
Parts of Medieval Armor
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Medieval armor varied greatly from a European knight to a Japanese samurai. An interesting project for students should cover the different styles of armor, and what different parts of the body the armor would protect. Give the students the names of parts of armor. Then ask them what part of the body and from what they would be used to protect. A sturdy helmet, as an example, would be worn to protect the head from the blows of a mace, sword, axe, lance or arrow. The greaves on the shins would protect a mounted knight from attacks from below from a sword or pike.
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Medieval Armor as a Status Symbol
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A medieval knight in armor was the equivalent of a pop star or a movie idol. This was particularly true of knights who won jousting tournaments. Both men and women would admire their courage. The social aspect of armor should be made into an interesting project. Ask the students to write an essay about how armor for a knight was a sign of status as well as having an obvious practical use. The essay should include details of the chivalric code a knight had to adhere to, mentioning how a knight should be courteous to women and treat an opponent with respect.
Medieval Armor Art Project
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A medieval armor art project should involve drawing and painting. Instruct the students to draw and paint a soldier from the medieval period in armor. The students should be allowed to choose from the styles of armor which have been discussed in class. The drawing of armor should be detailed and then be followed by a painting, which should evolve from a preliminary sketch.
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