Camera Lucida: a lens for the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism)

Welcome all! This lens is a place for all things related to the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism). I hope you find it useful; please feel free to contact me if you have any compliments, complaints, or suggestions. Enjoy!

For those who don't know, the SCA is a historical reenactment group that studies and attempts to recreate the European (and some Asian) Middle Ages and early Renaissance, between about 600 and 1600 CE, producing what is known as the Current Middle Ages. It began in California as an outgrowth of a May Day costume party and tournament in 1966, and now has tens of thousands of members worldwide.

Essential links

Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.: The official website of the organization. A good place to start.
The Pennsic War: The largest annual SCA event (12,000-15,000 people). Takes place in western Pennsylvania, and is the sine qua non of SCA experience for many people.
Knowne World Map: A nicely interactive set of maps of the Knowne World (the extent of the SCA).

For newcomers

Introductions, overviews, and hints for newcomers and those considering joining us.

Forward into the Past: One of the oldest SCA newcomers' guides. Still useful, and of historical interest as well.
A Guiding Hand: A newcomers' guide by the Honorable Lord Michael de la Mare. Written for the Kingdom of Ansteorra (Texas and Oklahoma), but mostly applicable to the SCA as a whole.
Life in the Current Middle Ages: The SCA's own brief introduction to what it does.
Aoife's Links for Newcomers: A list rather like this one but more comprehensive, from SCAtoday.net.

Historical cookbooks

(in association with Amazon.com)

This will probably go into its own lens eventually, but for now I thought I'd post links to a few excellent historical cookbooks. For other books of interest, see below.

Pleyn Delit: Medieval Cookery for Modern Cooks

by Constance B. Hieatt, Brenda Hosington, Sharon Butler

This was the first historical cookbook I bought, and I daresay many in the SCA can say the same. It's a fine work, concentrating mostly on English and French recipes, with some Italian and Middle Eastern ones thrown in. The scholarship is excellent, the writing is entertaining, and the recipes are delicious.

Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 08/21/2008)

The Medieval Kitchen: Recipes from France and Italy

by Odile Redon, Francoise Sabban, Silvano Serventi

Similar to Pleyn Delit in scope and style, but with a focus on French and Italian recipes. Highly recommended.

Amazon Price: $15.30 (as of 08/21/2008)

A Taste of Ancient Rome

by Ilaria Gozzini Giacosa

This may be my favorite historical cookbook, though lately I've been hearing doubts about the accuracy of Giacosa's reconstructions. To be sure, Giacosa seems to be reconstructing for a slightly conservative audience, which means she occasionally leaves out some of the weirder ingredients in the original recipes. However, she always explains very carefully the changes she makes, and reprints the original recipes for comparison. The book is also full of amusing, interesting information about ancient Roman foodways and customs, so it's a great read even if you never try any of the recipes.

Amazon Price: $17.55 (as of 08/21/2008)

Kingdoms of the SCA

The SCA divides the Knowne World into 19 kingdoms. Here are their official sites, along with brief descriptions of their geographical coverage.

SCA - Kingdom of Æthelmearc: United States: western New York, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
The Kingdom of An Tir Infoscroll: Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Saskastchewan, Yukon. Presumably also Nunavut.
United States: Northern Idaho, Oregon, Washington.
The Stellar Kingdom of Ansteorra: United States: Oklahoma, almost all of Texas.
Kingdom of Artemisia Home Page: United States: western Colorado, southern Idaho, Montana, Utah, western Wyoming.
Kingdom Of Atenveldt: United States: Arizona, along with tiny pieces of California and Utah.
Kingdom of Atlantia: United States: District of Columbia, northern Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, most of Virginia.
The Kingdom of Caid: United States: Southern California, Hawaii, southern Nevada.
The Kingdom of Calontir: United States: Northwestern Arkansas, most of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, most of Nebraska.
Kingdom Of Drachenwald: Africa, Europe, Middle East.
SCA: Kingdom of Ealdormere: Canada: Eastern Ontario.
The East Kingdom of the SCA: Canada: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Québec.
United States: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, eastern New York, eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont.
Kingdom of Gleann Abhann: United States: most of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, western Tennessee.
Lochac: Australia, New Zealand, and their Antarctic territories.
Kingdom of Meridies: United States: Alabama, northwestern Florida, most of Georgia, south central Kentucky, most of Tennessee, western Virginia.
SCA - Midrealm: United States: Illinois, Indiana, eastern Iowa, most of Kentucky, lower Michigan, Ohio. Perhaps also a bit of Ontario in Canada; I'm not sure.
Kingdom of Northshield: Canada: Manitoba, northwestern Ontario.
United States: upper Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
Kingdom of the Outlands: United States: Eastern Colorado, western Nebraska, New Mexico, western tip of Texas, eastern Wyoming.
Kingdom of Trimaris: United States: Most of Florida. Also perhaps Panama and parts of Antarctica.
Kingdom of the West Web Site: Asia: Japan, Korea, Pacific rim.
United States: Alaska, northern California, northern Nevada.

Miscellaneous resources

SCA links that don't really fit into any of the categorized lists.

SCA Badges: 80x15 pixel badges for all 19 SCA kingdoms, created by yours truly!
SCA Castle: Web page of some SCA folk who are building their new house in the form of a castle, based on Bodiam Castle in England.

Other books of interest

(in association with Amazon.com)

The Known World Handbook

by Society for Creative Anachronism

A fine overview of the history and customs of the SCA. Currently slightly out of date (I wish they'd publish a new edition), but still worth having.

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)

The Knights Next Door: Everyday People Living Middle Ages Dreams

by Patrick O'Donnell

A recent study of the SCA and the people in it; there's also a website with more information. Full disclosure: I have not read this book all the way through, but the parts I have read and the recommendations it has received from others give me enough confidence to put it on this list.

Amazon Price: $19.75 (as of 08/21/2008)

Life in a Medieval City

by Joseph Gies, Frances Gies

A wonderful, vivid portrait of the French city of Troyes in the 13th century. The scholarship appears to be excellent, and the entertaining writing style makes you feel that you are right there in the midst of the Middle Ages.

Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 08/21/2008)

Chivalry

by Maurice Keen

A classic, monumental work exploring the growth and significance of the medieval ideal of chivalry, one of the most important concepts of the first Middle Ages and the Current Middle Ages alike.

Amazon Price: (as of 08/21/2008)