Historic Replicas

The release of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, in which Johnny Depp played the famed Captain Jack Sparrow, sparked a revolution which pushed pirates back into popular culture.  To this day, the facts and myths associated with life as a pirate fascinate people of all ages.  Pirates lived out their lives on the sea, and were often known to commit acts of fraud, thieving, and drunken debauchery.  But pirates also had a code of conduct, and were a superstitious bunch, traits that pushed their images into popular culture.

Pirate clothing is a favorite amongst people at costume parties, and consists of several different articles.  The common perception of the pirate outfit includes articles like a button up shirt, bandana or pirate hat, and fabric trousers.  Pirates also carried accessories for combat like a cutlass and a pistol, and other accessories including compasses, coin pouches, and small knives for combat or utility purposes.  Perhaps more interesting than pirates are all the myths about giant sea beasts, sirens, and ghost ships from pirate culture.  These myths have helped spawn modern interest in pirates and their lives on the sea.

Viking society was built around the Viking battle axe and the Viking swords, and a man’s social status was dependent upon his skill and bravery in battle (well, that and the amount of loot he brought home from a raid!).  It makes sense, then, that the Vikings had their own dueling rituals, and embraced the duel as a natural part of their justice system.  The Vikings’ concept of a duel would do much to influence ritualized combat in later societies, in that they were one of the first cultures to make it a legitimate course of action for those who felt they’d been wronged, like a law suit today.  The Viking duel, or Holmgang, could be used to settle virtually any dispute, whether over money, honor, or the love of a woman.  The Viking world was strict and unforgiving when it came to matters of war; once challenged, a Viking had to accept, or risk being labeled a coward and stripped of his social standing and self-respect.  He might even be declared an outlaw!  The winner could legally claim everything the loser owned, even his wife and children.  A few skilled warriors even turned the Holmgang into a kind of con game, challenging other warriors who’d done nothing wrong and killing them to botain their property.  Nevertheless, some aspects of the Holmgang display an uncommon sense of fairness.  Unlike later European quarrels, in which only members of the ruling class could have a legitimate duel, any Viking could challenge another regardless of social standing.  That meant that even the poor and downtrodden had the means to stand up for themselves.

It’s somewhat unclear whether dueling existed in Ancient Greece and Rome.  The Roman costumes / uniforms definitely weren’t made for it.  Both were military societies whose men were trained for war, and they took their honor and reputations as warriors very seriously.  They probably didn’t hesitate to defend their honor with a sword when they felt they’d been wronged.  Dueling was a more sophisticated concept, though, involving combat between equals armed with the same weapons, and restricted to noblemen, since only they had honor to satisfy.  Dueling as we know it today wouldn’t take shape for several more centuries.  The Greeks and Romans had an equally exciting tradition though, and one with much higher stakes.  It was the practice of single combat, in which a lone warrior could decide the outcome of an entire war.  There have been accounts of single combat since biblical times (David and Goliath, for example), but the Greeks and Roman appear to have been particularly fond of it.  If a warring king or general wished to spare the lives of his men (or just conserve his resources), he could select a champion to fight on his army’s behalf.  The opposing leader was compelled to choose his own fighter, and this one battle would decide the victor. Both armies were honor-bound to respect the outcome of the battle, and be prepared to surrender if their champion lost.  The two men donned their Roman armor and met in the no-man’s-land in the middle of the battlefield while their comrades cheered them on from afar.  Can you imagine the terrible excitement these warriors must have experienced, knowing the fate of their homelands rested on their shoulders? 

It’s somewhat unclear whether dueling existed in Ancient Greece and Rome.  Both were military societies whose men were trained for war, and they took their honor and reputations as warriors very seriously.  They probably didn’t hesitate to defend their honor with a sword when they felt they’d been wronged.  Dueling was a more sophisticated concept, though, involving combat between equals armed with the same weapons, and restricted to noblemen, since only they had honor to satisfy.  Dueling as we know it today wouldn’t take shape for several more centuries. 

The Greeks and Romans had an equally exciting tradition though, and one with much higher stakes.  It was the practice of single combat, in which a lone warrior could decide the outcome of an entire war with his Greek sword.  There have been accounts of single combat since biblical times (David and Goliath, for example), but the Greeks and Romans appear to have been particularly fond of it.  If a warring king or general wished to spare the lives of his men (or just conserve his resources), he could select a champion to fight on his army’s behalf.  The opposing leader was compelled to choose his own fighter, and this one battle would decide the victor. Both armies were honor-bound to respect the outcome of the battle, and be prepared to surrender if their champion lost.  The two men donned their Roman armor and met in the no-man’s-land in the middle of the battlefield while their comrades cheered them on from afar.  Can you imagine the terrible excitement these warriors must have experienced, knowing the fate of their homelands rested on their shoulders?  

A Renaissance fair is sometimes referred to as a Renaissance festival or a Renaissance faire, but by whatever name it’s known, this is a gathering usually held outdoors over the span of a weekend. During that time, the area completely replicates the Renaissance age from the people to the food to the jousting. Depending on the particular fair, these can either be permanent theme parks or traveling, temporary gatherings.

If you’re interested in visiting a Renaissance fair, be prepared to encounter many musical acts, theatrical events, and crafts for sale. Most of these fairs are meant to recreate a typical, albeit fictitious, English village during the time of Elizabeth I, which is most often considered the heyday of the English Renaissance. To fit into the fun and theme of these events, make sure you browse Renaissance costumes for the perfect outfit. This way, you’ll perfectly fit into the atmosphere, and you’ll have more fun because you’re getting into the spirit of the fair.

For much of its history, war was a part of life in Japan.  Only 20% of the country is usable farmland, and powerful Japanese clans clashed frequently as they attempted to seize and control it.  Japanese swords have been used on the battlefield for thousands of years, and have deep cultural significance for the Japanese people.  The first swords in Japan on record were a gift from China to the Japanese Queen Himeko in 240 A.D.  Many more swords were imported from China in the next several years, and they became common on the battlefield around that time. 

By the 5th century, the Japanese were using straight, single-edged swords called chokuto.  These swords were made of steel, but still weren’t of the highest quality.  It wasn’t until 700 A.D. that the legendary swordsmith Akamuni forged the curved, folded-steel blades made famous in movies and cartoons.  Japanese combat had evolved from foot to horseback, and the cavalry were usually swinging their blades downward; smiths discovered that swords with curved blades had much greater cutting force, and the classic Japanese sword was born.  Originally these swords were called tachi, and had some flaws.  For example, the tip of the sword broke easily and couldn’t be fixed.  Japanese smiths were persistent, though; for five centuries, they diligently improved the sword’s design.  Finally, in the 14th century, they produced the katana, one of the most famous swords in history.  Thanks to its shape and the special steel used to build it, the katana’s cutting ability became legendary throughout the world.