Popular [Mis]conceptions of Medieval Warfare
Peter Burkholder
Popular portrayals of war in the Middle Ages, such as medieval-themed films and video games, draw large crowds, big money, tremendous interest among general public. As a result, certain dubious stereotypes now overwhelm depictions medieval combat, further reinforce extant misconceptions. However, there is long history this, both at hands popular entertainers professional military historians. This article identifies causes number these fallacies, points out that entertainment sometimes merely reflects ongoing disputes Finally, it suggests that, even if factually problematic, historians should not simply dismiss media. Rather, games can be employed to help clarify public's misunderstandings about warfare.
History Compass