The Known World of the Current Middle Ages encompasses the United States, Canada,
Australia, and Europe, and there are small chapters in many other parts of the globe. It is
divided into 18 Kingdoms, each ruled by a King and Queen who won the Crown by the sword
(simulated of course). These Kingdoms may be subdivided into Principalities ruled by a
Prince and Princess who also owe their status to victory in combat. Kingdoms and
Principalities are composed of local branches called Provinces, Baronies, Cantons, Shires,
and similar names from other languages.

What do they mean when they say?...

The responsibilities of administration do not rest solely on the shoulders of the rulers, as
there is a well organized civil service to take care of much of the tedium of running a
Kingdom. Seneschals oversee the daily affairs. Marshals supervise the fighting and related
safety regulations. Chroniclers publish the newsletters. The Registry (an office run by the
SCA, Inc. for all the Kingdoms) processes membership applications and maintains the
mailing list. Some Kingdoms have a Gold Key pavilion to offer information and loan of
appropriate costume to the first time visitor. There may also be a Chatelaine, whose duty is
to welcome the newcomer to the Society. While various officers encourage the practice and
research of historical arts and sciences, scores of other people help keep the whole
organization running smoothly. In fact, one of the three peerage level Society wide awards,
the Order of the Pelican, is bestowed for service to the Society.

Members of the Society strive to recapture the ambiance of the Middle Ages and the
Renaissance. This requires research into such topics as dress, weaponry, armor, jewelry,
and food: in other words, any facet of life as it was lived. Authenticity is encouraged in
so far as modern views on health and safety permit, and the members put their research into
practice by constructing replica artifacts, practicing historical arts and crafts, learning to fight
with sword and shield, and so on. But more so than research and practice, the Society also
attempts to embody the ideals of the medieval romances: chivalry, courtesy, honor, and
graciousness. This is re-creating the Middle Ages as they might have been, adding a note of
consideration for others in an often too indifferent world.

The Society sponsors many different events. There are numerous revels (gatherings to enjoy
the music, entertainment, food and drink of the period we study at firsthand), seminars,
demonstrations,and tournaments. Usually the most elaborate revel of the year is the Twelfth
Night celebration, where members wear their most elegant garb and spend the night in
dancing and merriment. Banquets are held, with authentic recipes and entertainment. There
are also various guilds that hold meetings for those interested in specific arts. Seminars are
also held on topics of interest to members and other students of history. The Society also
holds public demonstrations of fighting and other aspects of historical cultured and
technology by request. The most typical Society event is the tournament,where everyone
comes in pre-Seventeenth century garb (from simple peasant tunics to more elaborate court
dress) and spends the day --or several days-- immersed in the Current Middle Ages.

The most visible activity at a tournament is the fighting. Participants study and practice
the martial arts medieval style, making their own armor and (simulated) weapons. Besides
the combat for the selection of the Crown, there are also many challenge matches, melees,
and other competitions to test skill at arms. The Order of Chivalry, another peerage award,
is an honor bestowed by the Crown upon those who have demonstrated excellence on the
field of combat.

For those whose main interest lies in areas other than fighting, a tournament also involves
the pursuit of gentler arts, such as music and dancing, to while away a pleasant afternoon.
There may also be competitions to test the skill of the participants. Areas of interest are as
varied as the culture itself: heraldry, manuscript illumination,archery, metalwork, lace
making, and other needle crafts, dance, music,poetry, cooking, brewing, costuming, and
much more. The Order of the Laurel, a third peerage award, is bestowed in recognition of
excellence in the Arts and Sciences.

While Society events are often colorful to observe, the deeper satisfactions, come from
becoming a participant. To realize this truth, one need only taste the sense of accomplishment
generated by research that produces something to wear or eat or use as a tool, rather than
just mere words on paper. In addition to having fun, we gain a wider perspective on our world
by learning to do as our predecessors might have done, by discovering things about the past,
we discover things about ourselves.
We walk, not backward into the future, but forward into the past.