Soucres for medieval Eastern Europe

[reanjr]

Just a question: How do Americans subdivide Europe geographically?

I just ask because where I come from, the term Eastern Europe is reserved for the area of the former Soviet Union. Romania belongs to South-East Europe, together with Bulgaria, Albania, all countries of former Yugoslavia (except Slovenia) and Greece. Transsylvania is sometimes even considered a part of Central Europe .

Generally when I hear it, it seems to refer to anything east of Germany. All of the formerly communist countries pretty much. It usually does not refer to Greece or Turkey. This has always been the impression people seem to be trying to convey when using the term. We don't generally use Central Europe as a designation, so you are either East or West.

 

[johnsemlak]

I just edited my post to mention the Roma (Gypsies)

I am not sure were Roma comes from, given their mythical Egyptian and actual Indian origins.

Marriem Webster says:

Main Entry: Rom
Function: noun

Etymology: Romany, married man, husband, male Gypsy, from Sanskrit domba, doma low caste male musician

 

[reanjr]

1. What values most shaped the culture (or specific segments of the culture)? How were those values expressed?

Christian ones.

2. What role did religion play in the lives of the people? What was their attitude toward religion and faith? Idealistic (such as: faith- especially [insert religion] faith- is necessary to live a good life; faith is a a key part of getting in touch with the divine; [insert lofty goal here])? Pragmatic (for instance: faith is a weapon and defense against the unnatural)? Was religion primarily communal or autonomous? What happens when someone does not share the faith of the local majority? Besides Christianity, what religions were present during this time?

From what I understand, religion was integral to life. The Orthodox church wielded a lot of power.

Society and Government
1. What was the basic social structure like? What role did gender, class, ethnicity, and religion play in society?

I understand that there was a bit more respect for women in this time period than many places in the west, but we're not talking egalitarian or anything. Class was as rigid/loose as your standard feudal society. The area was an ethnic melting pot, sort of a crossroads of the world. This led to many strange alliances and agressions, but I wouldn't say it played a more central role than anywhere else. I'm not so sure how other religions fared in that time period; most people were Christian.

2. What form of government was there? How did this influence the life of the people?

Feudal. More feudal than most contemporaries. Everyone in power had alliances to enemies, friends, friends of enemies, enemies of friends, etc. It's rare that someone held power for any amount of time here.

Folklore and Mythology
1. What role did folklore play in the lives of the people? What were some of the practices and traditions that resulted from it?
2. What are some supernatural creatures they believed in?
3. What are some of the specific myths and folk tales of this period?

The bogeyman was prominent in this area and time due to the influence of the church. The church would promote folklore of demons and other night creatures and then tell you how to ward them away or avoid them at church. So you had to go to church to learn how to protect yourself. Many of the modern vampire wards come directly out of this. The church didn't require any kind of precedent, they just made it up as they went along.

Aesthetics
1. What did the typical village look and sound like? The average stronghold? Religious center? The typical commoner? The typical aristocrat?
2. What is the language like? What are some common words? What were the naming customs for people and places?

Villages were small and secluded. There are a lot of geographical barriers in the region, which is why the population was so segregated ethnicly. Castles were small, non-grandiose affairs that were functional. I would imagine most of them would be built on cliff edges due to the rugged geography. I don't really know much about the commoners. The aristocrats were fat and abusive. Anyone who held power for some time was either great at allying themselves with the right people or they were warlords, from everything I've heard.

Something Different
What, in your opinion, are the key elements that make medieval Romania different from other medieval European areas?

Oppression is rampant. Either through the power of the church or the warlords or the boyars (land holders). The political maneuverings, while not machiavellian in their intricacy, were ruthless. Lots of untamed wilderness (even today). As I stated before, this is a crossroads and a lot of minor battles happened here from this time all the way through to the 19th century.

I'm not afraid of lots of words. If you want to show off how much you know, that's fine by me. What is important, though, is that the information is accessible enough for a novice (*points to self*) can understand what is being said.

Well, I may be incorrect on specifics, but I think I've got the gist of the area. Most of what I know is from reading about Vlad Tepes in particular. So what I've picked up about the area and time period is sort of secondary knowledge.

 

[Tonguez]

Something Different
What, in your opinion, are the key elements that make medieval Romania different from other medieval European areas?

The two words that most describe Medieval Eastern Europe for me is Oppression and Xenophobia. The peasantry were slaves to their feudal masters who were often abusive and always scheming. Life was hard, the climate and geography were not condusive to good living and so the people wewre use to death.
Portray that and I think you have a good campaign start in addition remember that the natural isolation of the area with its huge wilderness and rugged terrain meant that people were suspicious of newcomers (like PCs) and strangers NOT welcome. In the villages any corruption or vice could go unnoticed and unchecked for generations until exposed (as a plot hook - say like Elisabeth Bathory of Transylvania)

 

[mythusmage]

For a good introduction to the history of Romanian try the site I've linked to. According to the author Romanian can be considered something of a creole in its own right, having a vocabulary owing much to a now extinct Slavic tongue.

 

[talien]

Are there any D20 settings that borrow heavily from Eastern Europe besides Ravenloft?

Someone already mentioned it: Frost and Fur: The Explorer's Guide to the Frozen Lands, has a large section on Slavic peoples, monsters, and magic: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0972819754/michaeltrescaA/

Prior to that hardcover, I wrote two adventures in the fantasy setting of Horassia.

• Tsar Rising: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=097080945X/michaeltrescaA/
• The Dancing Hut: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0971772975/michaeltrescaA/

Why in the world The Dancing Hut is selling for over $100, I have no idea.

EDIT: Oh yes, one other thing. I wrote a lot (but not all) of the Khador section of the Iron Kingdoms World Guide, which is another fantasy Russia setting.

 

[Desdichado]

EDIT: Oh yes, one other thing. I wrote a lot (but not all) of the Khador section of the Iron Kingdoms World Guide, which is another fantasy Russia setting.

Dude! You ЯOCK!

I'm really digging Khador for Warmachine.

 

[TerraDave]

Christian ones.



From what I understand, religion was integral to life. The Orthodox church wielded a lot of power.

In Transylvania, the Catholics wielded the power due to the Hungarians. When the Muslim Turks ruled the region, they gave Catholics and Orthodox populations a certain degree of autonomy under there own religious leaders. But, it was the Greek Orthodox church that was sanctioned by the Sultan, again another source of friction, as the local population was not Greek speaking.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Generally when I hear it, it seems to refer to anything east of Germany. All of the formerly communist countries pretty much. It usually does not refer to Greece or Turkey. This has always been the impression people seem to be trying to convey when using the term. We don't generally use Central Europe as a designation, so you are either East or West.

Agreed - anything east of Germany (or, the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times) is "Eastern Europe" to most Americans. Well, those that know a bit about geography. That would include Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Moldavia, Walachia, Transylvania, etc. I think Russia/Lithuania/Ukraine-Kiev is considered Russia/the steppes.

Though, I'm not sure if the medieval Byzantine Empire (which lasted until around 1450, right?) is considered Eastern Europe, Greece, Southeast Europe or just its own thing, as it did include (at times) parts of Asia Minor/Turkey.

 

[TerraDave]

Backwardness

Yes, Europe was a backwards, feudal place in the middle ages.

I am not sure that Transylvania was particularly worse then a lot of places (areas farther east and north might be a different story). There where towns and cities, major castles, mines and money from those mines. The merchants and ruling class at least would be in contact with the outside world, including the cities of Buda (and Pest), Venice, Constantinople, Vienna. A full range of armor and weapons, including gun powder ones, were in use at the end of the period. Of course, this doesn’t preclude serfdom, violence, superstition…but the local (Vampire) Count does not have to live in a hovel.